Be prepared

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 30 April 2013 11:56

Most of us are still complaining about the stubborn persistence of Old Man Winter as the month of May rolls in. But keep in mind that once warm weather arrives for good, so does the peak season for tornadoes in Kansas. Are you prepared for the unthinkable? Do you have an appropriate shelter if a tornado threatens? Basements and storm shelters are best, whether they be yours or a neighbor who is willing to share. If you have neither, seek shelter on the lowest level in the center most part of your home. Put as many walls between you and the storm as possible.

Have you prepared an emergency stash of supplies in the event of a disaster—such things as personal medications, clothing changes for two days, toiletries, checkbook and cash...

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Justice undone

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 23 April 2013 12:40

News that former McPherson College football player Alton Franklin was acquitted last week of second-degree murder charges in the death of Tabor College student Brandon Brown last fall leaves a bitter taste of justice undone.

A McPherson County jury could not find conclusive evidence that Franklin struck blows that led to Brown’s death. From this distance, we can’t say the jury was wrong. But their decision leaves us disappointed that Brown’s family apparently will not have the opportunity to experience closure for the murder of their loved one. Franklin has now been acquitted, and co-defendant DeQuinte Flournoy pleaded no contest earlier to aggravated battery. Is that sufficient resolution for the loss of a 26-year-old student who...

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Critical mass

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 16 April 2013 12:49

Criticizing public leaders is a spectator sport in our culture. In some cases, the criticism is justified, for every profession has the self-promoting hucksters within. But every so often it’s good for us to remember the perspective of Teddy Roosevelt, himself a frequently maligned servant of the people in his day. Spoken in 1910, his words are worth pondering today:

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or...

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Honoring the nameless

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 09 April 2013 12:46

We applaud the Marion County Sheriff’s Office as it honors the men and women who serve as public safety dispatchers during National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, April 14-20. The week is dedicated to public safety telecommunicators who aid in providing 9-1-1 assistance to citizens everywhere.

The term “9-1-1” is often associated with rapid emergency response, poise under pressure, aid and compassion in times of distress and critical decision-making within seconds. Many people don’t think about these seemingly nameless, faceless individuals until they experience actual emergencies themselves. These professionals make the difference between life and death.

We thank the sheriff’s office for bringing the occasion to our...

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