Representatives from the Marion County Community Economic Development Corp. spoke with commissioners Monday after learning last week that another candidate for the director’s job turned their offer down. In addition to losing a qualified candidate to lead the group, Clint Seibel, chairman, said that financial support from Hillsboro and Marion will not be forthcoming in 2019. “(The candidate) sent me […]

The Marion County Commission accepted the resignation of Emma Tajchman, director of Planning and Zoning, approved the 2019 budget and resolved unfinished business from earlier sessions at its meeting Monday. Based on past discussions, two resolutions were passed regarding how Planning and Zoning board members are selected in each of the three commission districts and when private citizens do public […]

Kansas Publishing Ventures (KPV) has entered into an agreement to purchase the The Hesston Record, Harvey County Independent and The Ledger newspapers from Robb and Martha Reeves of Hesston. Close date is set for Sept. 1. KPV also recently acquired the McPherson News from Anne Heidel, who launched that paper about three years ago. Joey Young and Bruce Behymer are […]

The Hillsboro Senior Center hosted an ice cream social Friday night. Young, old and in between enjoyed the bierocks, ice cream, live music and socializing. Above Darrell Driggers serves up his grandchildren some homemade ice cream.

New teacher Tena Loewen prepares her classroom for her incoming second grade class. While the position is new to Loewen, she is very familiar with Hillsboro and the halls of Hillsboro Elementary School. Laura Fowler Paulus / Free Press A new yet familiar face will be in the halls and classroom this year at Hillsboro Elementary School. Hillsboro native Tena […]

Polls closed last week but the Republican candidate for Governor is still up for grabs, and the race is only getting closer. Coming into this week, 110 votes separated Secretary of State Kris Kobach from Governor Jeff Colyer in a contentious gubernatorial primary race. This is a lead of less than a tenth of a percent across the state for […]

Volunteers Cheryl Bartel and Brenda Kimberly assist Hillsboro Residents Randy and Vianne Hagen as they vote at the poll at the Hillsboro United Methodist Church on Tuesday, Aug. 7. Patty Decker / Free Press The Marion County Commission completed its canvass during the Monday meeting with some adjustments made after the provisional ballots were reviewed. In the primary race for […]

The booming calls of the lesser prairie chicken once rung out across western Kansas. Accounts from the 1800s mention bands of hunters bagging dozens of birds each. Railways advertised special trains that brought sportsmen to shoot the birds in the Texas panhandle, complete with ice cars to preserve the meat on the ride home. Then, over a century of plowing […]

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 […]

2018 Country Threshing Days, held in Goessel Aug. 3-5, kicked off with sawmill demonstrations followed by threshing and field demonstrations. For three days, attendees could participate in various activities from demonstrations such as corn binding, shelling, ensilage chopping and plowing to pedal tractor pulls and large engine startups. Activities were available for all ages. Children enjoyed visiting farm animals and […]