For a boy named Roy

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 06 April 2010 18:25

Homeroom teacher Barb Goering helps Roy Blosser with a spelling exercise with several of his classmates. He identifies his letters by feeling the Braille—she, by reading the print. Roy Blosser has made a wonderful adjustment to first grade.

Like most of his classmates, the 8-year-old navigates the hallways of Goessel Elementary School these days with confidence. He knows the way to his classroom, the lunch room, the restroom and the gymnasium, where he particularly likes the rock-climbing wall. He enjoys recess.

Roy is doing well in the classroom, too. He’s inquisitive, a fast learner and obviously intelligent at the rate he learns new words and works with math. He especially likes music.

Socially, Roy fits right in. He has the occasional normal squabble with his classmates, but overall the interaction with his peers is positive, healthy and even caring.

“It’s been really rewarding to see how aware they...

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Mann’s campaign trail leads to Hillsboro stop

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 06 April 2010 18:23

Congressional candidate Tracey Mann and wife Audrey (right) chat with Joanne Loewen during last Tuesday’s campaign stop at Vogt’s Hometown Market. Even though he has close ties with the man he’s seeking to succeed, Tracey Mann was in the coffeeshop section of Vogt’s Hometown Market in Hillsboro last Tuesday trying to cook up a few votes for the Republican primary election for the 1st District seat in the U.S. House of Repre­sentatives.

“I’m the business candidate with an agriculture background, and I feel that’s what we need right now,” he said.

Mann grew up on a farm near Quinter and went on to Kansas State University, where he earned a degree in agriculture economics and served as student body president.

While there, he said his life changed when he became the first intern for the first-term congressman from Hays, Jerry Moran, in 1997.

“I had never met him...

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Local couple discovers it pays to be tidy

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 06 April 2010 18:22

Hillsboro residents Glenda and Tom Stoppel appear pretty relaxed these days with an extra $10,000 in the bank. An extra $10,000 might not be a life-altering amount of money, but for Tom and Glenda Stoppel of Hillsboro, the experience of winning it was priceless.

What made the win more fun, Tom said, was how it happened.

“We were getting ready to go to my dad’s 81st birthday,” he said.

While waiting to leave, Tom decided to go through a little basket where he keeps his billfold, keys and, on this occasion, a 5-month-old “Hot Lotto” ticket.

“I bought the ticket Oct. 25,” he said, “for the Oct. 28 drawing.”

With a few minutes to spare, Tom went to the Hot Lotto Web site to check the winning numbers. When he looked at his ticket and then at the numbers on the computer screen, all five numbers matched.

He looked at the ticket...

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And they're off!

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 06 April 2010 18:18

The stampede was on with the start of the annual Kiwanis Club Easter Egg Hunt Saturday at Memorial Park in Hillsboro. With more than 240 children in the hunt, organizers said this was the second year in a row for record participation. An added bonus this year was an appearance by the Easter Bunny, who was more than happy to pose with children of all ages while parents took photos. Each year, said Clint Seibel, one of the event coordinators, local businesses make it possible for the Kiwanis Club to distribute baskets of treats for the children. “Without the help of these businesses, we couldn’t do this,” he said.