Budget battle bulletins

Written by Don Ratzlaff Wednesday, 05 March 2008 13:52

DahlBarnettGroupP3016665.jpg LEFT: Sen Jim Barnett chats with (from left) Larry Paine, Jared Jost and Mayor Delores Dalke following the presentation.

MIDDLE: Rep. Don Dahl came equipped with a sizeable graph to illustrate the state’s sizeable financial challenges.

BOTTOM: Sen. Barnett makes his point about the need for coal-fired energy plants to meet the short-term need for affordable electricity. 

With this year’s legislative session at the...

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Hillsboro family living amid Kosova change

Written by Malinda Just Wednesday, 05 March 2008 13:39

Two weeks ago, Kosova, an impoverished territory in Europe with a population of mainly ethnic Albanians, unilaterally declared independence from Serbia.

Currently, Serbia refuses to recognize the declaration, and the United Nations continues administration.

The declaration of independence has been long-awaited by the people of Kosova, said Matt Krebs, a former Hillsboro resident who has been living and working in Kosova, along with his family, for nearly four years.

“Since arriving here...

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Farmers urged to maintain cash reserves for the future

Written by Jerry Engler Wednesday, 05 March 2008 13:37

KohlEmpriseDCP_4417.jpg David Kohl (seated) responds to questions from seminar participants during a break. The economict from Virgina Tech described several “megatrends” in agriculture.

David Kohl, agricultural economist from Virginia Tech, advised about 110 farm producers and businessmen Feb. 26 at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethern Church to keep their cash reserves up and stay flexible in the coming economic world.

Kohl, who holds his graduate degrees from Cornell, was...

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Moran stops in Peabody to visit with Marion County voters

Written by Don Ratzlaff Wednesday, 05 March 2008 13:29

MoranPeabodyP3036761.jpg Congressman Jerry Moran stopped at the Peabody Senior Center Mondayafternoon for his annual “Big First” tour stop in Marion County. About17 people gathered to listen to Moran’s summary of politicaldevelopments in Washington, D.C., and to ask questions. Moran listed anational energy policy, health-care reforms and a review of “No ChildLeft Behind” as key issues needing to be addressed. He said the countryneeds an energy plan that will reduce its dependence on...

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A bridge too many?

Written by Jerry Engler Wednesday, 27 February 2008 12:48

MarionCountyBridgeP2256553.jpg This bridge south of Lincolnville is one of the 300-plus structures the Marion County Road and Bridge Department is responsible to maintain. The age of many of the bridges are making them candidates for replacement, but limited funds are making that a challenging prospect.

The 300-plus bridges of Marion County on dirt and gravel roads are a continuing challenge for county officials trying to maintain them with the low budget funds of a rural...

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