These friends, who make up the crew of WMC Productions, are having fun creating short videos that promote positive messages to their Instagram followers. Pictured from left are Makenna Reed, Tanner Plett, Ainsley Duell on the phone, Ella Suderman and Karley Loewen. Aleen Ratzlaff/Free Press What began as helping to spread the word about a library reading contest has evolved […]

Hillsboro’s swim team roster listed 85 swimmers ages 5 to 18 who were coached by a mother-daughter duo this summer. Since 2011 Stephanie Moss has been the head coach for the Hillsboro Recreation Commission’s swim program with daughter Kalen as assistant coach for the past five years. This season, which ended the first week in July, was Kalen’s last as […]

Meal prices and student fees were among the agenda items approved for the 2018-19 school year the USD 410 Board of the July 12 regular meeting. The board approved a 5-cent increase for all meals except adult non-staff and extra milk. “We will need to take a look at food service and what we do going forward,” Superintendent Max Heinrichs […]

The Hillsboro swim team received awards for a season well done July 15 at the Hillsboro Family Aquatic Center. General and specialized awards. Among those honored were these 13- and 14-year-old swimmers, pictured from left: head coach Stephanie Moss, Tylee Miller, Cheyenne Funk, Malorie Hein, Macy Priest, Emersyn Funk, Ainsley Duell and assistant coach Kalen Moss.

In her basement, Lana Hauschel stitches patterns on the quilts using a sewing machine attached to a metal frame. Initially Hauschel planned to finish 86 quilts by her July 4 deadline. But because the machine nicked a pin while she was stitching No. 65, she decided to stop with No. 64. “If timing is off a millisecond, it skips stitches,” […]

USD 410 Board of Education voted to reject the proposal from Opaa, a food management company, to contract for 2018-19 at the special meeting held June 25. School districts such as Marion-Florence, Centre and Canton-Galva partner with the company for their food service. Superintendent Max Heinrichs made the recommendation following negotiations with Opaa. “The only way to see a savings […]

Linda Peters, who retired in May after 43 years of teaching, helps one of her young charges run the bases while learning how to play kickball on her last working day with preschoolers. “Great times that I know I’ll miss,” Peters says.Courtesy photo by Linda Peters To come “full circle,” according to Merriam-Webster, means returning to where one began. That […]

USD 410 Superintendent Max Heinrichs presents Teresa Bernhardt with her Service Award for completing 19 years of food service with the district. Don Ratzlaff As part of its routine agenda, the USD 410 Board of Education approved the purchase of laptops for Hills­boro Elementary School at the June 11 regular meeting. The district had received the lowest bid of $44,919 […]

“I’ve found over the years that some of these kids really enjoy getting out in the shop and doing things,” Norm Winter says. “So I decided we’re going to make projects.” Norman Winter tells of the time some 25 years ago when he received a free jig from Maynard Hefley, long-time owner and manager of The Lumberyard that recently closed […]

Courtesy photo“Title 1 are kids that need some help in reading and/or math,” Gloria Winter says. “They’re just not quite up to speed. They haven’t been diagnosed with a disability.” Gloria Winter completed her 47th year of teaching public schools this May, and for all those years, she said her personal schedule has been wrapped around the school calendar. But […]