Book discussion group set Jan. 15
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Hillsboro Public Library?s book discussion group will meet at 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 15, at Brenda?s Bloomers, 111 W. Grand Ave.
The book read this month is ?First Dawn? by Judith Miller, a Kansas author. The discussion is one week later than originally planned for the discussion, a spokesperson said.
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Santa Fe trail will be meeting topic
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The Santa Fe Trail in Marion County will be the focus of a presentation at Mennonite Heritage & Agricultural Museum?s annual meeting at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, at Goessel Mennonite Church.
The presenter will be Steve Schmidt, McPherson, president of the Cottonwood Crossing Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association. The Santa Fe Trail crossed the prairie in a northeast/southwest direction about 11 miles north of Goessel.
A short business meeting will precede Schmidt?s presentation.
Faspa, a traditional Low German light lunch, will be served following the meeting.
Free ?Goessel Mennonite Centennial 1874-1974? commemorative plates will be available.
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MCSEC to meet Monday, Jan. 18
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The Marion County Special Education Cooperative will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18, in the conference room, 1500 E. Lawrence in Marion.
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Brainstorming session set Jan. 18
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The public is invited to a brainstorming session at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18, at the Hillsboro City Building, 506 W. Grand Ave., to discuss Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce activities for 2010.
In addition to the session, a soup meal will also begin at 6 p.m. All proceeds will be used to support Chamber promotions.
Any and all ideas are welcome, a Chamber official said.
Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by Thursday, Jan. 14, to e-mail address: hillsfurn@embarqmail.com or by calling Nancy?s Fashions, 947-3362.
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TEEN group sets meeting Jan. 21
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The Technology Excellence in Education Network will hold its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, in the Marion District Office, said Brandi Hendrix, TEEN advisor.
For more information, call 620-382-2168 or e-mail: brandi@usd408.com.
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Peabody church plans pancake feed
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The men of the Peabody United Methodist Church will be serving a pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, at the church, 403 N. Sycamore, Peabody.
All proceeds will go toward the purchase of a new stovetop griddle and the men?s ministry of the church, said pastor David Ragland.
For more information about the event, call 620-983-2154.
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Bluejay softball team sponsors feed
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The Tabor College Bluejay softball team is sponsoring an all-you-can-eat pancake feed starting at 9 p.m., following the basketball game against Sterling College, Saturday, Jan. 23.
All proceeds will go to support the team.
Tickets are $5 adults; $4 seniors and students and children 8 and under are free.
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Hillsboro site of driver safety class
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A driver safety class will meet from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 25-26, at the Hillsboro Senior Center, 212 N. Main St.
The course, said Jona Baltzer, one of the organizers, is a product of the American Association of Retired Persons with local sponsorship providing classroom and the opportunity to teach the course.
The cost is $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-members. The fee covers basic expenses to include certificates, handbooks and maps.
Some people have expressed an interest in weekend or evening classes to accommodate students or employees, Baltzer said.
If there is enough interest in these schedules, classes could be possible in the future.
For more information, call 620-947-2446 or 620-947-2304.
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Girl Scouts to begin cookie sales Jan. 16
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Girl Scouts in Marion County will be starting the sale of cookies Satuday, Jan. 16.
According to information provided by the scouts, eight varieties of cookies are available for $3.50 per box.
Those include caramel deLites, peanut butter patties, shortbread, thin mints, peanut butter sandwich, lemonades, Daisy Go Rounds and Thanks-A-Lot.
Proceeds from the cookie sale are used to benefit local girls, helping them pay for summer camp experiences, purchase uniforms and much more. The sale also funds programs and services throughout the year and ensures that Girl Scouting will be available in the future.
The timeline for this year?s drive is Jan. 16, start selling cookies; Feb. 8-20, cookies delivered; Feb. 18, cookie cupboards open and booths open with March 7 the last day of sales.
Community members may also call the Cookie Hotline at 888-686-MINT to get in touch with a troop in their neighborhood or visit kansasgirls?couts.org for more information.
Assistance offered for LIEAP signup
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The Marion County Depart?ment on Aging (formerly Depart?ment for Elderly) is offering to assist individuals wanting to sign up for Low Income Energy Assistance Programs, Home?stead and food sales tax returns after Jan. 19.
Anyone who filled out a LIEAP application or Homestead and food sales tax return last year will receive one in the mail. Staff will be available by appointment to help individuals apply for the assistance or tax-refund programs.
Watch the Free Press for the dates when the staff will be coming to your community. You can contact the Marion County Department on Aging from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 620-382-3580.
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Spanish courses offered in February
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Marion County Cultural Arts & Learning Center will be offering Spanish courses in Burns and Marion next month.
The classes will begin Mon?day, Feb. 1, and end Thursday, Feb. 25. Classes will be offered in the morning or afternoon in both communities and evening classes are available in Burns.
Class time and location will be determined by the interest in each community. Each class will be one hour and will meet Monday through Thursday.
Cost of the course is $120 in Burns and $160 in Marion. The textbook, ?Dos Mundos,? will cost $10. The instructor is Nedy Grimwood, Burns, and the classes will be taught in her home.
The location for the classes in Marion is yet to be determined.
To enroll for the course, contact Nedy at 620-726-5691.
Commodities will arrive next week
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USDA commodities will be available at Marion County senior centers Thursday, Jan. 14.
Food items include pork in natural juice, peanut butter, corn flakes, vegetable mix, apricots, ultra high temperature 1 percent milk, instant non-fat dairy milk, Great Northern beans and dried cherries.
Each center will distribute commodities according to their schedules, said Gayla Ratzlaff, coordinator, Marion County Department on Aging.
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Winter/spring Storytime to begin
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The winter/spring session of Storytime at the Hillsboro Public Library will begin Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 20-21.
Delora Kaufman, children?s librarian, said the 40-minute sessions of book reading, activities and crafts are available for 3-year-olds, as of Jan. 1, through kindergarteners.
The registration fee for the entire four-month session is $4 and signup is underway with two different times. Payment is due by the first session. Classes are offered at 10:20 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday or Thursday.
There is a limit of 12 children per class, Kaufman said.
For more information or to register, call 947-3827 or stop by the library, 120 E. Grand Ave.
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New compost pile opens in Hillsboro
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The new compost pile, south of the Hillsboro City Shop on North Adams, is now open.
Items that may be dumped, according to city officials, include leaves, grass clippings, dead flowers, straw, dead corn stalks and other garden waste.
Officials are urging that no limbs or branches can be dumped because they will not readily decompose.
However, limbs and branches may still be dumped at the burn site located north of Hillsboro.
A key will need to be checked out at the city office.
