Feed store is more than a business for Burns

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 21 February 2012 14:49

Even with new ownership, Glen’s Feed Store in Burns maintains a familiar look—and a familiar business style where honesty and loyalty are the cornerstones of success. When Jim Bob and Jodi Watkins decided to buy Glen’s Feed Store in Burns, they saw it as an opportunity to diversify their farm and ranch operation a few miles from town.

That’s still the goal, but the couple recognize the business has come to mean much more than that—to them, but also to the people who live in or near the community of 230 or so people in the southeast corner of the county.

“There were a lot of people who were glad to see it stay,” said Jodi, who works part-time at the store in addition to her accounting job in El Dorado.

As one of the few businesses still operating in Burns, Glen’s Feed Store has become more than an outlet for quality feed and minerals for cattle and horses. It’s become a source of...

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Foundation awards $14,000 in Impact Grant funds

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 14 February 2012 15:08

The Hillsboro Chess Guild was one of 10 area organizations and programs to receive an Impact Fund check during halftime of the Trojan boys’ basketball game last Tuesday against Sterling. Hold­ing the check for $500 is Janet Whisenhunt, guild director. Stand­ing with her are guild members (from left) Tristan Rathbone, second grade, Abby Fryhover, fourth grade, and Alex Lubbers, fifth grade. Behind them is HCF board member Robert Loewen, who presented the check. Hillsboro Community Found­a­tion celebrated reaching $1 million in managed assets Feb. 7 by giving away free cookies and awarding a record $14,000 to 10 area public-service organ­izations and causes.

The celebration occurred during halftime of the Hillsboro High School boys’ basketball game against Sterling.

Following are the recipients of this year’s Hillsboro Area Impact Fund grants, with an explanation from each organization about its work and its intention for the money.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Marion County, $1,000. “Bigs in Schools” is a one-on-one mentoring program that matches at-risk children with carefully screened, caring volunteers, many of whom are high school students. Mentors meet weekly with their...

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Rains turning gravel roads into mud, director says

Written by Jerry Engler Tuesday, 14 February 2012 15:07

After months of dry weather, the recent 2- and 3-inch rains soaking in slowly have turned some of even the best gravel roads in Marion County to muddy quagmires.

“I feel for the people on some roads,” Road and Bridge Director Randy Crawford told the Marion County Commission Monday.

“Everything is going to pot in a hurry.”

Crawford said if it was possible in a county with too few people and lots of miles of roads, he would asphalt every road.

Commissioner Dan Holub said the problem becomes apparent when you realize if all of the roads in Marion County were laid end to end, they would reach to San Diego and back again.

Crawford said the best the county can do, as long as the winter weather and moisture lasts, is to patch...

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Hillsboro council advises against getting staff involved at lake

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 14 February 2012 15:06

Members of the Hillsboro City Council agreed that while it’s appropriate to share staff expertise and resources with the county and communities within it, it’s not wise to become involved with the inspection of trailer homes at Marion County Lake.

The sentiment emerged during a work session following the council’s Feb. 7 regular meeting.

City Administrator Larry Paine called the work session to get the council’s feedback regarding an inquiry from Dan Holub, chair of the county’s Board of Com­missioners, about hiring the city’s building inspector at the county lake.

Paine said if the council thought pursuing the proposal had merit, the city and county could establish an interlocal agreement that would protect the city from...

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