City, fair board review options for carnival site

Written by Don Ratzlaff Wednesday, 09 May 2007 04:25

Where to locate the carnival during this summer’s Marion County Fair remained an open question following a discussion of options between the Hillsboro City Council and members of the fair board during the May 1 city council meeting.Tom Kimbrel, speaking for a delegation of four board representatives, asked the council to allow the carnival they have contracted to set up in the outfield of Memorial Field.

Last year, the council decided Memorial Field would no longer be available for the county fair because of $50,000 worth of improvements the city and school district were planning for the baseball facility.

Mayor Delores Dalke countered Kimbrel’s request by asking whether the board would consider locating the carnival on the eastbound...

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Managers hired for pool season

Written by Don Ratzlaff Wednesday, 09 May 2007 04:21

The search for someone to manage the Hillsboro Family Aquatic Center this summer is over.

Mayor Delores Dalke reported at the May 1 Hillsboro City Council meeting that Judy Helmer and Marci Cain have been hired as co-managers.

“I’m really excited to have two such experienced people in that position,” Dalke said of the mother-daughter team.

Cain has significant pool experience, including four years as swimming pool manager at Marion. Both Helmer and Cain are in the process of being certified for handling pool chemicals.

Holly Lindsay, Hillsboro, has been hired as assistant manager.

Dalke said the pool vessel is scheduled to be cleaned May 8 and that a pest-extermination company has been hired to treat the building for insects...

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Bond financing plan calls for graduated mill increases

Written by Don Ratzlaff Wednesday, 09 May 2007 04:19

BondMeetingP1010004.JPG Unified School District 410 board president Rod Koons (standing, left) and member Dale Klassen lead discussion Monday at the first informational meeting about the upcoming bond election. About 20 patrons attended the session about the $6.625 million proposal. Koons and Klassen reviewed aspects of the proposed facility changes and fielded questions from the audience. Projected costs, mill-levy increases, ongoing maintenance and the proposed partnership between the public school district and Tabor College, a private institution, were among concerns raised. Superintendent Gordon Mohn, who arrived toward the end of the meeting, and architect Ken Helmer of Howard & Helmer, also provided input. Mohn said the verbal...

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Evasive AMPI fire causes limited damage

Written by Don Ratzlaff Wednesday, 02 May 2007 09:02

AMPIladderP4251362.JPG Mike Duerksen follows fellow firefighter Murray Koop up the ladder and onto the roof of the former AMPI building Wednesday morning in what turned out to be a challenge to find the source of a fire within. Smoke was wafting from the small black area in the far upper left of the photo. It took firefighters from Hillsboro and Marion nearly two hours to find the room of origin. On the ground are Dave Lancaster (left) and Todd Helmer. Don Ratzlaff / Free Press. Click image to enlarge. Inspectors from the state fire marshall’s office have yet to determine the cause of a fire Wednesday at the former AMPI building that caused more frustration than actual damage.<p>“The investigation is still ongoing,” said Hillsboro...

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