Hillsboro council approves Ash Street project change

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 13 July 2010 17:13

Workers with APAC Kansas remove the last of the old concrete on North Ash Street on Monday morning. The Hillsboro City Council approved the design change at its July 6 meeting. All-new concrete will cost the city $125,000 more than planned, but should results in a more durable street. The Hillsboro City Council formally approved at its July 6 meeting a mid-stream change in the renovation design for North Ash Street.

As discussed at its June 29 work session, the council approved a change order that would remove all of the old concrete in the three-block area and replace it with new concrete.

The original plan called for replacing only the worst of the old concrete with new, and then applying an asphalt overlay over the remaining sections of old concrete.

But a federal inspector on the scene late last month questioned the durability of applying the overlay on old concrete, according to City Administrator Larry Paine.

The inspector recommended that all of the old concrete be removed and then replaced either with...

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Hillsboro Farmers’ Market attracting more vendors

Written by Aleen Ratzlaff Tuesday, 06 July 2010 17:46

Shoppers at the Hillsboro Farmers’ Market can find “specialty crops” when they’re available. When there’s a good crop of apricots, Donna Dalke is there with her mouth “water-watering jams, jellies and pies,” said manager Joni Calam. A market vendor “off and on” for the past four years ago, Dalke said she harvests the fruit from trees on the farm. She was selling ripe apricots along with her jam and pies at Thursday’s market. During May through September, the front yard of the historic William F. Schaeffler House transforms itself into the Hillsboro Farmers’ Market, where patrons meander among vendors who sell such items as fresh produce, baked goods, grass-fed beef, free-range eggs and potted plants.

“We love to see the community come together every Thursday evening and visit over supper, which has been provided as a fundraiser by some local group or organization,” said Joni Calam, who founded the market with her sister, Sheryl Lehr, in 2006.

This season features new market vendors along with those from past years who display their goods from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays at the northwest corner of Grand and Jefferson.

“Our vendors have done a...

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New Kansas traffic laws in effect as of July 1

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 06 July 2010 17:45

Several new laws went into effect for Kansas drivers last week, and two laws that were effective last July with a one-year warning period become enforceable with a citation, according to the Kansas High Patrol.

Kansas’ new primary seat-belt law has been effective since June 10. Beginning June 30, drivers and passengers could be cited for violation of the law.

This law changes Kansas’ seat-belt requirements from a secondary violation to a primary violation, making it possible for law enforcement officers to conduct a traffic stop if the driver or front seat passenger is not wearing their seat belt.

A requirement has been added requiring adult passengers in the rear seats of a vehicle to wear their seat belts.

Effective June 30...

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Rain dampens July 4 festivities

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 06 July 2010 17:44

Don Ratzlaff / Free Press’<p>Audrey Mann addresses American values as the featured speaker at the the July Fourth Eve gathering Saturday on the William F. Schaeffler House grounds in Hillsboro. It was one of the few civic events to move forward as heavier rain inundated the area on Sunday. The Fourth of July weekend was more wet than wild across Marion County and most of central Kansas.

Most Independence Day festivities took a soaking as 3 to 5 inches of rain fell on the area Sunday. Rain continued on Monday.

Peabody’s 89th annual July 4 Celebration was rained out and rescheduled for dusk Saturday, July 10. Ramona’s “Redneck Fourth of July” also was canceled.

In Hillsboro, the Fourth of July Eve gathering on Saturday evening at the William F. Schaeffler went on despite occasional misty showers.

The turnout, estimated at 75, was lower than past years and the annual children’s parade was canceled for lack of participants.

At the same time, the gathering proved to be a good place to meet political candidates...

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