Almost 30 people attended the special meeting Friday, Aug. 3, in the Florence council chambers. Brad Stout, with Adam & Jones Law Firm, seared in the back row (fourth from the left) will serve as the DeForest family’s condemnation lawyer, if the city votes for eminent domain on Aug. 20. Patty Decker/Free Press The Florence City Council almost made its […]

by Patty Decker Initial results from Tuesday’s primary election in Marion County saw incumbent Kent D. Becker easily defeat his two challengers, Larry Cushenbery and Craig Dodd, for the District 1 commission seat. The preliminary outcome, which included eight poll sites, advanced and early voting follows. County races Commission District 1 Becker, (R), 452 Cushenbery, (R), 219 Dodd, (R), 192. […]

The Hillsboro City Council authorized a special assessment tax on construction of sanitary sewer improvements on certain real properties running along Third Street and in close proximity to it at the July 17 meeting. The total cost of the improvements is $125,455, with Groves First Addition Sanitary Sewer Improvements along Third Street paying $10,100 of the benefit district’s $115,293. Larry […]

Sully, a 6-year-old camel owned by Robert and Ashley Olmstead of Goddard, paid a visit to Salem Home residents and visitors on Friday. Robert, lead zookeeper at Tanganyika Wildlife Park at Goddard, said camels can run about 40 mph. Aleen Ratzlaff / Free Press It’s rare for an exotic animal to make an appearance in Hillsboro, but on Friday, July […]

Florence residents inquired about a dilapidated hot tub filled with trash on Fifth Street near the downtown area at the July 2 council meeting. The family who left the hot tub on the street said they expected the one-man operated garbage truck to remove it, which wasn't possible based on the size of the truck. As of late last week, […]

The Hillsboro City Council spent almost one hour reviewing the preliminary budget for 2019 at its meeting July 3. Larry Paine, city administrator, said when the initial data was put into the 2019 revenues and expenses, it showed $345,000 more in expenses than revenue, which needs to be dealt with. During the next two council sessions, the budget will continue […]

<p>Max First and Preston Nelson look at some of their favorite fireworks to include the “Snow Cone,” which can fire anywhere from 16 to 40 shots, depending on the size.<p>Free Press/Patty Decker Whether it’s supporting a non-profit group, earning extra money or selling privately, a fireworks stand can be a rewarding but tiring endeavor. But for people like Scott Zogelman […]

Lillian Bookless of Hillsboro is now a proud citizen of both the United States and Canada. Today the United States is celebrating its 242nd birthday, and it’s also the day the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776. In addition to the U.S. having a milestone event, 20 people from nine countries also celebrated a milestone by becoming […]

Florence City Council member Trayce Warner looks at a map outlining the water mains and sewer lines within the city. Warner said the reason for the rate increases, which were approved by a majority, will help maintain the water plant and the repairs and replacement coming up for the mains and lines. Patty Decker. Chaos erupted at the June 18 […]

After reading the Free Press editorial last week, I sat back and thought about how two local guys took a huge chance almost 20 years ago by starting a free newspaper that would go to every home in Marion County. The logistics of such an undertaking boggles my mind. It just couldn’t have been that easy. But Joel Klaassen, former […]