A great day for the Great Pumpkin Race

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 23 October 2012 13:52

About 105 runners turned out Saturday morning for the fourth annual Great Pumpkin Race sponsored by First Mennonite Church in downtown Hillsboro. The event included a 5-kilometer route through the streets of town followed by a half-mile for kids. In the top photo, the kids take off on a dead run for their out-and-back race along East Grand Avenue. Eight-year-old Grayson Ratzlaff posted the winning time among the boys at 2 minutes, 41 seconds. Tiffany Schale, 10, was the first girl to finish...

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Oil drillers damaging county roads, says road and bridge chief

Written by Jerry Engler Tuesday, 23 October 2012 13:52

Oil drillers beginning new wells in Marion County are tearing up county roads with heavy truck traffic, especially on 250th—just as the county has successfully reduced fuel expenses by limiting the use of road graders that would be needed to repair such roads.

Randy Crawford, road and bridge director, told county commissioners about the dilemma at their Monday meeting. Crawford said he had received a report of additional such damage on 230th during the meeting.

“What do we do?” he...

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New dental program may be a first for state’s public schools

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 23 October 2012 13:50

Filow Cruz, a third-grader at Hillsboro Elementary School, had his teeth checked earlier this fall by a staff member from the Salina Family Healthcare Dental Center. Students who indicate dental problems during the screening could qualify for financial assistance to those issues treated through the newly established Marga Ebel Children’s Dental Care Program. Marga Ebel wanted her estate gift of about $350,000 for the Hillsboro Community Founda­tion to be used to help meet the health needs of children in the community.

The former teacher, who lived a conscientious and frugal life until her death a few years ago, likely would be pleased to know that her generosity will provide a new and novel dental-health program for students in USD 410 schools.

About $18,000 per year for the next three years will be designated from the Marga Ebel Fund to...

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Women repurposing grocery bags into sleeping mats for Haiti

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 16 October 2012 13:54

Lois Johnson (left) and LaVaughn Klose complete the process of making sleeping mats for people in Haiti using 500 to 700 plastic grocery bags on Thursdays at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Marion. Others cut the plastic bags into strips, tie them and then roll them in balls for the final step in finishing the mat. For almost a year, a group of women at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Marion have been making unique sleeping mats for people in Haiti.

Irma Meisinger, one of the women involved in the project, said they reuse between 500 and 700 plastic grocery bags to make one sleeping mat.

“Some ladies cut the bags into two-inch strips, either with scissors or a cutting board,” she said. “Then others take the strips and tie them together.

“Once they get a whole bunch, the strips are rolled up...

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HCF seeking applicants for Impact Fund support

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 16 October 2012 13:53

The Hillsboro Community Foundation is accepting applications for grant funds to be distributed in 2013 from the Hillsboro Area Impact Fund.

Organizations may apply that are exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) and serve Hillsboro and surrounding communities.

Application forms can be downloaded from hillsborofree­press.com or cityofhillsboro.net, or picked up from Eileen Unruh at The Insurance Center at 105 S. Main, Hillsboro. The deadline for submission is Nov. 16.

The...

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