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County voter turnout exceeds state average

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Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 10 August 2010 15:25

Brookens No major changes affected the outcome of Tuesday’s primary election following Friday’s canvass by Marion County commissioners.

Overall voter turnout in the Aug. 3 primary was at 40 percent in Marion County, which was higher than the statewide average of between 19 and 25 percent, according to election officials.

Election Clerk Carol Maggard said she was pleased with the turnout and percentages in the county. Of the 7,564 registered voters, she said, 7,533 were eligible to vote in...

Fire marshal clamps down on old jail

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Written by Jerry Engler Tuesday, 10 August 2010 15:25

Marion County officials suspect that someone may have initiated a plan to try to force Marion County to build a new jail.

The Marion County Commission met in special session Thursday, Aug. 5, with Sheriff Robert Craft, County Attorney Susan Robson and jail committee members to consider what to do about a State Fire Marshal’s Office inspection report that would limit the current county jail to four prisoners at a time.

Craft was given 10 days to offer a plan to the SFMO. If the county were forced into a noncompliance situation that would require transportation of prisoners to other counties, he said, it could require an estimated $377,900 from the county budget in the first year.

As a first step, Robson and County Consulting Attorney...

Hillsboro budget would eliminate museum staff

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Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 10 August 2010 15:24

In an effort to avoid a larger mill-levy increase, City Administrator Larry Paine highlighted a preliminary budget for 2011 that would eliminate two paid staff positions with Hillsboro Museums and freeze city salaries for the second straight year.

Even with those provisions, the 2011 budget includes a property-tax increase of 1.563 mills to 41.726, ending a streak of six straight years with a lower mill levy.

Paine reviewed key components of the budget during the Aug. 3 Hillsboro City Council meeting. A public hearing on the budget is planned for 4 p.m. Aug. 17 at city hall.

Paine said it had been “difficult” to draft a budget that would hold the mill levy at the current level of 40.163 mills, given the projection for no...

USD 410 aims to change traffic habits at elementary school

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Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 10 August 2010 15:21

When classes begin Aug. 18 for Hillsboro schools, parents of elementary school students—and other local motorists—will have some new lessons to learn, too.

With the intent of making the area safer for children, Unified School District 410, in partnership with the city of Hillsboro, has developed new rules for drivers who approach the elementary school during a school day.

A revised version of the plan was approved by the Hillsboro City Council at its Aug. 3 meeting.

Starting this fall, parents will be asked to approach the school exclusively on Eisenhower Street, and use only the loop along the east side of the school building to drop off and pick up students. Parents can use any street to leave the area once they exit the...