Wheelchair travel forms bond between native and visitor

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 14 May 2013 13:25

Torey Hett of Marion shares a light moment with Ryan Chalmers during the Challenge Games in Derby. Chambers is traveling across the country in his racing wheelchair. In the upper left photo, Chalmers shows his traveling form as he rolls along the highway. When Ryan Chalmers, 24, arrived in Newton on Saturday, it marked the 35th day of his 71-day journey across America in his racing wheelchair.

Although Chalmers planned to continue through Marion County on Saturday, Torey Hett of Marion asked if he might consider staying until Sunday morning and take part in the Challenge Games at Derby.

Like Hett, Chalmers also was born with spina bifida, which is an incomplete closure of the spinal column, and means they do not have complete use of their...

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Back on his feet

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 14 May 2013 13:24

Amy, Christian and Damian Ratzlaff have endured a long journey on the way to getting Christian’s left knee back to health. It appears one Hillsboro High School student-athlete will have a senior basketball season after all, thanks to an innovative surgical procedure to restore his dying knee.

“I feel my senior year will be great, and I’ll be ready to go because I have time to prepare for it,” said Christian Ratzlaff, who was forced to sit out his junior season this winter. “After that, I’d love to keep playing. It’s nice that I have that option now.”

As recently as a couple of months ago, that...

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Signs of service

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 14 May 2013 13:22

Ed Riffel holds one of the 43 street signs he and wife Connie have repainted for the roads around Marion County Lake. ““It gave me something to do this winter and it was an improvement and showed pride in our lake,” he said. Ed and Connie Riffel, residents at Marion County Park and Lake, have spent the last few months repairing and repainting street signs around the lake even before too many people noticed.

“I don’t really like recognition,” Ed Riffel said about volunteering his time. “It gave me something to do this winter and it was an improvement and showed pride in our lake.”

The couple moved to the lake at the end of August last year.

“We moved from Newton and bought this house,” pointing...

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Winter attire for spring sports

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 07 May 2013 13:57

 

Hillsboro’s Evan Ollenburger tees off at Hole No. 5 on the Hillsboro Municipal Course during Friday’s Marion County Invitational tournament co-hosted with Marion.Even though the sun was out, Ollenburger and his fellow golfers endured an unspring-like cold wind for much of the day—which has became a common theme during April and into May. For tournament results, see Sports, starting on Page 6A.

 

 

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Graduation season begins this weekend

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 07 May 2013 13:56

Graduation time has arrived for high school seniors in Marion County. Commencement ceremonies begin this weekend in Marion and next week at Hillsboro, Canton-Galva, Centre and Peabody-Burns.

Marion

Marion High School’s 58 graduates are considered one of the larger classes walking to “Pomp and Circumstance,” according to school officials.

Baccalaureate is at 7:30 p.m. Wednes­day, May 8, with the commencement ceremony at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at the Marion Sports and Aquatic...

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