Janzen to retire as Parkside Homes CEO

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

Lu Janzen announced last week that she will be concluding 41 years with Parkside Homes Inc., effective within 90 days or by the end of the calendar year.

Janzen, currently working as chief executive officer and president, published her decision to retire in an open letter to residents, board members, staff and colleagues. She cited health issues as a factor in her decision.

“My heart and my head are in conflict over this decision, but I know that I have to listen to my head this time,” she said. “There are some projects that won’t be finished before I leave, so I will cheer you on from the sidelines.”

Janzen began working at Parkside in 1970 as an accountant. Five years later, the board hired her as the next administrator...

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Art event deemed a success

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 18 September 2012 14:40

Carissa Shields of Lincolnville (foreground), Kristin Vinduska of Pilsen (middle) and Katie Marler of Ramona liked the jewelry at one of the 120 booths during Marion’s Art in the Park. The annual event, sponsored by the Marion Chamber of Commerce, drew between 5,000 and 10,000 people. Between 5,000 and 10,000 people attended the 34rd annual Art in the Park and Craft Show Saturday in downtown Marion.

“I know the numbers were in the thousands,” said Judy Christiansen, chairman.

About 120 vendors from Kansas, Oklahoma, California, Missouri, Texas and Colorado came to sell anything from limestone and metal art to soaps, candles, jewelry, clothing, furniture and photography.

“The vendors told me the crowds stayed good all day long,” she said, “and the rain didn’t seem to bother most of them.”

With temperatures in the high 60s to low 70s, many visitors said they would rather have it cooler than too hot.

Christiansen said another thing she likes to do each year is visit the vendors to find out how they...

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Tampa’s community-owned grocery plans Saturday opening

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 18 September 2012 14:38

Monica Svoboda, store manager, checks the shelves at the Trail Stop community-owned grocery store. The new store, staffed entirely by volunteers, will be open for business Saturday. After two years of planning, Trail Stop Inc., a 1,500 square-foot community-owned grocery store, is having a “soft” opening Saturday in Tampa.

“This has been in the process for quite awhile,” said David Mueller, one of the eight volunteer committee members who worked to bring in the store.

Monica Svoboda, store manager, said Trail Stop will offer competitive prices and many of the same products as other grocery stores in the area.

“We are going to have everything or just about everything you can have—bread, milk, meat, cheese, canned goods, dry goods, condiments, beverages, paper products, tobacco and (3.2 percent) beer,” Svoboda said.

The committee is still working on its cigarette permit.

Community...

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Marion vets contribute to two FFA chapters

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 04 September 2012 14:01

The Animal Health Center of Marion and Spur Ridge Vet Hospital, also of Marion, recently presented a total of S1,282 to the FFA chapters as USD 408 Marion-Florence and USD 397 Centre FFA through their participation in a Pfizer Animal Health’s “Performance Pays” program this spring. As part of the program, Pfizer agreed to donate 1 percent of purchases made by the vet clinics to local FFA chapters. In the top photo, veterinarian Jessica Laurin from Animal Health Center of Marion County presented a check for $521 from Pfizer Animal Health representatives from Centre’s chapter: (from left) Steph Jen­sen, Sarah Smith, (Laurin), Chad Mueller, Carrie Carlson, Tom Oborny, Bryanna Svoboda and Justin Deines. In the bottom photo...

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Eagle rep talks about broadband possibilities for Hillsboro

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 28 August 2012 13:14

Dave Baker (left) of Baker Bros. Printing Co. in Hillsboro chats about the future of Internet access in Hillsboro with Dennis Weese of Eagle Communications during the public meeting Friday. Hillsboro residents will begin seeing improvements in their broadband service, according to information presented Friday by Dennis Weese, Eagle Communi­ca­tions community relations and product development director.

About 30 people attended the meeting at Hillsboro City Hall to hear the latest updates in technology related to Internet service, telephone and cable tele­vision through the Hays-based company.

The discussion about broadband concerns initially started with Clint Seibel, executive director of the Hillsboro Development Corp. and Joel Klaassen publisher of the Hillsboro Free Press.

“I met Clint about a year ago when we both signed in at a (Kansas) Rural Opportunity Conference,” Weese said. “Clint was there to learn...

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