The Hillsboro City Coun­cil approved at its June 5 meeting a financial services agreement with Piper Jaffray as the city prepares to begin street projects this summer. One of the major project is to replace Wilson Street once the city replaces the old waterlines in that residential area. The city will be using the state’s revolving loan fund to cover […]

It’s a busy time for farmers in Kansas, with harvest underway, and hay season in full swing. The Kansas Highway Patrol is reminding motorists to use more caution and patience when traveling around farm trucks, tractors, combines and other implements. “As the busy farming season is underway, each traveler in Kansas needs to be more aware of increased farm implement […]

Time is ticking away on a 99-year water lease that was ratified in 1920 between the city of Florence, and initially another family, who in 1960 sold to the DeForest family with the lease continuing at $500 annually. Due to expire in May 2019, the Florence City Council at its June 4 meeting decided as part of its negotiations with […]

by Ray Strunk The Free Press Marion County residents may soon be able to take their ATVs to the lake. Isaac Hett, director of the county’s parks and lake department, informed Marion County commissioners Monday that his department has discussed allowing full use of all-terrain vehicles on Marion County Lake roads. “It’s something we’ve been talking about,” Hett said. Currently, […]

The city of Marion took steps Monday to move forward on two long-term projects. First, the city approved a bid to officially begin its downtown revitalization project, five years after the process began. Then, the city accepted two grants from the Kansas Department of Transporta­tion for upgrades to the city’s airport. This process began three years ago. Each were unanimously […]

The Goessel City Coun­cil made annual appointments at its May 21 meeting. The appointments were Jennifer Whitehead, city clerk and court clerk; Greg Nickel, municipal judge; Josh Boehm, city attorney; and Patsy Schmidt, treasurer. There are no changes in these positions. The Citizens State Bank is the official depository. The council appointed Miriam Freeman and Kir­sten Solberg to the library […]

Emily Costello Kannady, representing the Tampa Community Foundation, presents certificates to the scholarship winners for 2018: (from left) Zach Barney, Max Svoboda, Cole Srajer and Austin Peterson. Not pictured Quentin Stuchlik. The applicants were asked to write an essay on, “What can the Tampa and Marion County community do to help attract you to live here?” Svoboda was the winner […]

The Goessel school board accepted a $1,000 donation from Jerald Grey, general manager of Hiland Dairy, during its May 14 meeting. The money is to be used for seeds, tools, gardening supplies and lesson materials for the school’s gardening project. John Fast, superintendent and elementary principal, said the donation is greatly appreciated and would be presented to the school the […]

City Clerk Jennifer Whitehead informed the Goessel City Council during its April 16 meeting that temporary financing has now been awarded for the sewer project. Rose Mary Saunders of Ranson Financial had talked with the council during its Feb. 20 meeting about temporary notes and interim financing. Saunders, White­head and Public Works Director Karen Dalke traveled to Salina to accept […]

Symphony in the Flint Hills and International Opera Workshop will partner for a second year to host Opera Workshop in the Flint Hills from July 24 to Aug. 5. The two-week-long Master Class will bring advanced students and young professional singers from points throughout the nation to the rural Flint Hills community of Marion. Following a rigorous audition process, artistic […]