Cutting into concrete floors can raise problems later

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 25 September 2012 14:07

For homeowners looking to improve the value of their homes—and cope with the needs of multiple generations living under one roof—basement and garage renovations make sense. Both can enhance home value and add much-needed living space for less than one might spend on building an addition.

Basement and garage projects recoup 66.8 percent and 57.2 percent of their original costs, respectively, at the time of resale, according to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report.

Before you dive into one of these projects, you should consider an often-overlooked logistic of working in a basement or garage—the concrete floor beneath the structure. Often, converting a basement or garage into usable living space involves adding plumbing...

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Delinquent property tax increasing in county, says county treasurer

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 21 August 2012 13:19

Delinquent taxes in Marion County for 2011 have increased to $428,000, according to information provided by Jeannine Bateman, county treasurer.

She said the total for Hillsboro is $74,000 and for Marion $99,000.

In 2008, Hillsboro homeowners and businesses were $50,000 delinquent and in 2009, that amount surpassed $103,000.

Marion in 2009 had a delinquent taxes totaling $85,000 compared to $65,000 in 2008.

Although the delinquent tax amount isn’t as high as Bateman initially thought it night be, she still believes the reason taxpayers fall behind is because of the tough economic times.

“It’s finally catching up with this area,” she said.

Consequences

Bateman said each taxing entity decides how much it needs in ad valorem...

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Cases of hand, foot, mouth disease reported in county

Written by Aleen Ratzlaff Tuesday, 10 July 2012 14:03

Shannon and brother Quenton pose with mother Jenille Taylor in their Marion living room. Earlier this summer, both children experienced a bout of hand, foot and mouth disease. Although Taylor said she is aware of HFMD because of her training in early child­hood, this was the first time she had encountered it. Over Memorial Day weekend, Jenille Taylor of Marion arrived at her parents’ in Cedar Point to help shear their alpacas.

Taylor said her mother reported 7-year-old daughter Shannon, who had spent the night there, had complained of a bad headache across the crown of her head. Giving her Tylenol had helped.

Taylor’s mother said she had also noticed some spots on Shannon’s hands.

“With Shannon being down there—my mom has chickens, goats, alpacas—I just figured that she got into something that had a reaction on her hands because it was just on her hands,” Taylor said, adding that Shannon acted fine while they worked with the alpacas.

But later that day while attending a family gathering, Taylor said, Shannon was tired and...

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Builder says straw bales will make house ‘super’ efficient

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 26 June 2012 18:03

Not many people can say they own a straw-bale house and even fewer can say they built it from scratch by themselves. But for one Marion County man, that’s exactly the case.

Don Harmon, who lives east of Hillsboro, started about one year ago building his dream home, which when finished will be one of the most energy-efficient places in the area.

“This house should outlast any of us,” he said, “and if anyone is looking for a super high efficiency home, this is the way to go.”

Born in a small town about 65 northeast of Denver, Colo., Harmon said he learned to build things living on a farm.

“It’s one of the things you do when you live on a farm...it’s part of growing up there, you learn stuff,” he said.

After...

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