Downtown facility gives Woods base for fitness classes

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 08 June 2010 17:08

Anna Woods instructs participants in her fitness camp for child­ren ages 3 to 6 on Monday morning. It was the first official day for the new Woods Well­ness center at 107 W. Grand in Hillsboro. After 31?2 years of offering classes in multiple venues and communities in the area, Anna Woods of Woods Wellness will now welcome clients who come to her at a newly opened facility in downtown Hillsboro.

“I guess it came down to I got tired of hauling my equipment around to different places,” Woods said about the move. “I’ve been able to meet a lot of people that way and develop a clientele, but I was tired of the driving.”

After starting her fitness enterprise based in her rural home in January 2007, Woods has been offering classes in various locations Hillsboro and Marion as well as making weekly trips to Hutchinson and McPherson.

She said circumstances “kind of all fell together” in recent weeks, leading to the...

Read more: Downtown facility gives Woods base for fitness classes

Foreclosed home can be a rewarding buy

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 25 May 2010 19:23

With the downturn in the economy over the past two years, hundreds of thousands of homes have gone into foreclosure, offering a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many Americans to buy a home at an unheard of price, sometimes 30 percent or more off the most recent sale price.

Buying a home is always a challenge. Buying a foreclosed home presents unique challenges. You need to be willing to hunt, put up with lenders who offer surprisingly little information about the properties they’ve taken back, real estate agents who have little experience or incentive in selling foreclosed homes, and loan officers who demand nearly perfect credit ratings to obtain a loan in today’s tight-fisted market.

Foreclosed properties are typically...

Read more: Foreclosed home can be a rewarding buy

Tips to help you sell your home in these tough times

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 25 May 2010 19:22

A few years ago, it seemed like in some markets you could stake a “for sale” sign outside your home and within a few hours you would have multiple offers. Not anymore.

Today’s tough economic times mean that home sellers need to do their homework, take a more assertive role in marketing their home and, at times, get creative to help their home stand out from others that are on the market.

Regardless of how tough the times are, the fact remains that a nice home, well maintained, in a desirable neighborhood, and priced right will sell more quickly than a home that hasn’t been kept up or hasn’t been priced according to what other homes in the neighborhood would sell for.

Whether you’re selling your home as part of downsizing...

Read more: Tips to help you sell your home in these tough times

Smart drivers have a back-up plan to overcome blind spots

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 25 May 2010 19:06

In the last four years, 474 children in the United States were killed by back-over incidents, according to Kidsandcars.org, a child safety advocacy group. These deaths are easily preventable, and you can greatly reduce the risk of back-up accidents by installing a back-up sensor on your car or truck.

With SUVs, trucks and large cars growing in size, backing up can pose a serious problem for drivers. Even the most accomplished driver can’t see blind spots, which can lead to costly repairs or serious injury.

A back-up sensor is a small investment to protect your car and those around you. It is especially a good idea if you live in an area with many pets or children. Between 2001 and 2003 alone, more than 7,400 children ages 1 to 14...

Read more: Smart drivers have a back-up plan to overcome blind spots