Marion council OKs PRIDE grant initiative for downtown

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 20 November 2012 16:00

Darin Neufeld, an engineer with EBH & Associates, uses a bird’s-eye photo of downtown Marion to point out city improvements being promoted through the local PRIDE committee. The Marion City Council approved having the PRIDE committee go forward on its enhancement grant application for the downtown area with the city agreeing to commit an estimated $239,000.

Pam Bowers, PRIDE committee member, said she has been working with Darin Neufeld, a supportive business owner and engineer with EBH & Associ­ates, on the grant proposal.

Based on a community survey given a couple of years ago, she said, the committee received responses about the park, recreation areas and downtown

“Improvement of the downtown was high on the list,” she said. “We then had two public meetings and discussed what they wanted done and then talked with downtown merchants.”

Neufeld said Bowers asked him to look at an original...

Read more: Marion council OKs PRIDE grant initiative for downtown

Crowd urges governor to expand Medicaid eligibility

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 13 November 2012 15:39

About 100 people rallied outside the Kansas Statehouse Friday, urging state officials to expand Medicaid eligibility as provided for in the federal health reform law.

A Lawrence pastor cast the expansion as a Christian imperative during a call-and-response exercise with the crowd.

“If Jesus was up in the Capitol would he make a choice to keep 130,000 people without care?” said the Rev. Joshua Longbottom, associate pastor at Plymouth Congregational Church in Lawrence.

“No,” the crowd shouted.

“If Jesus was up in the Capitol, would he tell families that they just need to get better jobs so that they could afford to take care of themselves?” Longbottom asked.

Again, the answer was “no.”

“Did Jesus say, ‘I’m sorry...

Read more: Crowd urges governor to expand Medicaid eligibility

County providing Medicare drug plan enrollment assistance for seniors

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 06 November 2012 15:50

The Marion County Depart­ment on Aging is providing assistance to older adults interested n comparing and enrolling in 2013 Medicare prescription drug plans.

Open enrollment ends Dec. 7.

Gayla Ratzlaff, coordinator, will be available to take appointments from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday,

Barb Smith, a volunteer with Senior Health Insurance Coun­seling For Kansas, will take walk-ins every Wednesday morning from 9 a.m. to noon at the Marion Senior Center.

Ratzlaff will be in Peabody Nov 5; to make an appointment at the Peabody Senior Center or Indian Guide Terrace, call Ruth Lott at 620-983-2226.

Ratzlaff will be in Hillsboro Nov. 27. Call Brenda Moss at 620-947-2304 to set up an appointment at the Hillsboro Senior...

Read more: County providing Medicare drug plan enrollment assistance for seniors

Annual Toy Run participants deliver gifts and bicycles for county families

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 06 November 2012 15:46

Dozens of motorcycles and classic cars made the annual trek between Marion and Hillsboro Saturday afternoon to deliver Christmas gifts for deserving Marion County children and families via the 19th annual Marion County Toy Run. In the photo above, Kim Timmermeyer, Mooch Woods and Mark Danner share a laugh as they bring toys to be donated to the Angel Tree at Hillsboro State Bank. At left, this unidentified Toy Run rider is wearing a hat almost as unique as his gift. In addition to the games, toys and other smaller gifts, a trailer brought more than a dozen bicycles for distribution this Christmas. The Toy Run is sponsored by Abate of Kansas District 19, Sons of American Legion Squad 366 and the Route 56 Classic Cruisers.