One last icy bite of winter?

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 16 April 2013 12:36

Marion County, along with most of Kansas, experienced yet another blast of late winter as freezing participation coated trees, plants, wheat fields—well, anything outdoors—with a layer of ice last Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning. The storm left magical images, including an ice-encased peach-tree bud (left photo). But the ice also caused some damage, particularly to Bradford pear trees that had just come into full bloom the previous day.The one pictured below snapped into...

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Tabor College to dedicate newest residence hall

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 16 April 2013 12:35

Harms Residence Hall at Tabor College will be officially dedicated at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 27.

The public is welcome to attend the dedication and ribbon cutting. This event was rescheduled from February due to a snowstorm. The 16-unit residence hall is located at 502 E. B St.

Following the ceremony and ribbon cutting, guided tours of the facility will be available for the public.

The building was made possible by a donation from North Newton physician Wilmer Harms to honor the memory of...

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Local KSU player to be part of Team USA effort

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 16 April 2013 12:34

Marion County native Dakota Kaufman and her Kansas State volleyball teammates will compete for Team USA at the World Univer­sity Games in Kazan, Russia, this summer.

The announcement that the Wildcats team had been selected as the national volleyball team was made last Tuesday.

The World University Games, scheduled for July 6-17, is an international multi-sport celebration of collegiate athletes organized by the International University Sports Federation.

The games serve as an...

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Heroic inspiration

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 16 April 2013 12:31

Hillsboro native Chip Reese with wife Amy and son Ollie enjoy some family time together. Heroes are created in the crucible of crisis. Occasionally they produce a superhero, too. Both happen to be true for Hillsboro native Chip Reece.

Not only has the 1999 Hillsboro High alum, wife Amy and young son Ollie endured a severe medical crisis together, but Chip is close to unveiling to the world a new superhero story.

He’s titled it, “Metaphase — A Graphic Novel Inspired by Little Heroes with Down Syndrome.”

“Basically, it’s a superhero dad who has a son with Down...

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Classic vehicles again fuel hope for relief sale success

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 09 April 2013 12:36

Bruce Stucky and Wayne Schrag of Moundridge and Leann Toews of Goessel help clean the 1942 Studebaker Coup in preparation for Saturday’s auction. When 20,000 to 25,000 people descend on the Kansas State Fair­grounds in Hutchinson this weekend for the 45th Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale, more than a few will have a keen interest in the classic cars and tractors to be sold this year.

The sale has developed a tradition of selling several donated motorized items each year to help raise funds for the worldwide relief efforts of Mennonite Central Commit­tee.

“We have some wonderful donations,” said Jerry Toews of Goessel, who helps...

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