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For a boy named Roy

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Roy Blosser has made a wonderful adjustment to first grade.

Like most of his classmates, the 8-year-old navigates the hallways of Goessel Elementary School these days with confidence. He knows the way to his classroom, the lunch room, the restroom and the gymnasium, where he particularly likes the rock-climbing wall. He enjoys recess.

Roy is doing well in the classroom, too. He?s inquisitive, a fast learner and obviously intelligent at the rate he learns new words and works with math. He especially likes music.

Mann?s campaign trail leads to Hillsboro stop

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Even though he has close ties with the man he?s seeking to succeed, Tracey Mann was in the coffeeshop section of Vogt?s Hometown Market in Hillsboro last Tuesday trying to cook up a few votes for the Republican primary election for the 1st District seat in the U.S. House of Repre?sentatives.

?I?m the business candidate with an agriculture background, and I feel that?s what we need right now,? he said.

Mann grew up on a farm near Quinter and went on to Kansas State University, where he earned a degree in agriculture economics and served as student body president.

Local couple discovers it pays to be tidy

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An extra $10,000 might not be a life-altering amount of money, but for Tom and Glenda Stoppel of Hillsboro, the experience of winning it was priceless.

What made the win more fun, Tom said, was how it happened.

?We were getting ready to go to my dad?s 81st birthday,? he said.

While waiting to leave, Tom decided to go through a little basket where he keeps his billfold, keys and, on this occasion, a 5-month-old ?Hot Lotto? ticket.

?I bought the ticket Oct. 25,? he said, ?for the Oct. 28 drawing.?

Three towns plan for April 6 local elections

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In less than one week, voters in Hillsboro, Burns and the city of Marion will cast ballots for city council positions.

The spring general election will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, in three polling locations.

Hillsboro voters in Wards I and II will both go to Hillsboro City Hall, 118 E. Grand Ave., but they will vote on separate ballots, said Rhonda Toal, election clerk.

Marion councilor questions validity of special meeting

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Marion City Council member Bill Holdeman said during the March 22 regular meeting that he wanted an explanation about why a special meeting was called March 12 alleging misconduct on the part of Mayor Mary Olson.

The allegation concerned K.S.A. 21-4005, which addresses ?maliciously circulating false rumors? about a local business ?with intent to injure? its ?financial standing or reputation.?

She believes small things can make a difference for others

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One aluminum tab might not seem like much, but for one Hillsboro woman, each tab contributes toward supporting families with a place to stay when their loved ones need lengthy hospital care.

Eileen Butler, a retired Hillsboro Elementary School teacher, has become passionate about collecting the tabs for the Wichita Ronald McDonald House, and her enthusiasm is catching on around the community.

Hillsboro council considers training for volunteer board members

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Hillsboro City Council members expressed interest at their March 16 meeting in providing training for volunteers serving on city boards, but asked for more time to consider the form and expense of it.

City Administrator Larry Paine had proposed hiring a professional consultant to lead a seminar on boardsmanship, perhaps on a Saturday.

The consultant, Mike Conduff, is president and chief executive officer of The Elim Group, based in Denton, Texas. Paine indicated he had distributed Conduff?s book, ?The On Target Board Member,? as a resource for council members.

Paine presented a proposal from The Elim Group, indicating his interest in hiring Conduff for a one-day seminar, plus a year of e-mail or phone coaching with city officials. The cost of the seminar was projected at $2,750 and the cost of coaching was $750.