Fracking could drain reservoir level

Staff Soapbox

Written by Jerry Engler Tuesday, 02 April 2013 11:54

You’d think this was an old problem that was solved years ago with construction of Marion Reservoir.

I have talked to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers people in the past who said water supplies for communities like Marion and Hillsboro are minor compared to the total volume of water that passes through Marion Reservoir.

But there is a new potential high-water-use demand, already begun, that could greatly draw down county reserves in the future.

It’s horizontal oil drilling, or “fracking,” which could use huge quantities of water. One such well being drilled already draws water from a creek flowing into the reservoir, its neighbors said.

According to analysis by Stephen Ellis with Morningstar Inc., a licensed index provider for...

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Advice every student should hear

Free Falling

Written by Bob Woelk Tuesday, 09 April 2013 12:47

Almost by accident, I was listening to a group of radio and TV gurus discussing the topic, “What’s ahead in the job market?” at a Kansas Association of Broadcasters student seminar and career fair in Topeka last week.

The accidental part is that Hillsboro High School does not have a broadcasting program. I was actually there to take part in a workshop on 21st Century Journalism, a class I teach that launches students into yearbook and newspaper.

The opening session was a panel discussion among the movers and shakers of Kansas broadcasting: Kyle Bauer of KCLY/KFRM, headquartered in Clay Center; Nate Hill of KSNT/KTKA TV out of Topeka; Jim Ogle of WIBW TV in Topeka; and Ron Covert of Cumulus Radio, the Topeka-area equivalent of...

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Itching, like beauty, is skin deep

Lipstick & Pearls

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 16 April 2013 12:50

After staring at a blinking cursor for over an hour last night, writing occasionally, deleting frequently, I did the only thing I could. I turned off the computer and turned on the TV.

Maybe it’s the way I’ve been trained. Since as long as I can remember, my teachers have stressed the importance of the opening paragraph. The hook. Readers are supposed to be drawn in, not able to resist reading the remainder of the essay.

So when I can’t come up with a great lead-in to a thought, I have to let my work sit. While I have known some people who like to start with the main idea and work back to the introduction, that’s just not for me. I like to start at the very beginning because, well, it really is a very good place to start.

Over...

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Letters (April 24, 2013)

The Week That Was

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 23 April 2013 12:41

Where do you buy your toilet paper?

 

What if everyone in Marion County made a commitment to buy all of our toilet paper locally?

I recently read about that kind of challenge given to the 15,000 citizens of Franklin County, Iowa, by their local Chamber of Commerce. They called it, “Buy One Product Local,” and were featured on local TV. (buyoneproductlocal.com/)

Somehow they figured out the average person uses 105 rolls of TP a year, costing an average of $1.25 per roll. That one product adds up to almost $2 million in annual sales.

Of course not everyone bought their toilet paper locally. They estimated the actual amount spent was about $335,800, which means the citizens of Franklin County lost out on about $1.6 million a...

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