Open house set for Becky Carlson

All players, students, parents, coaches, administrators and fans are invited to an open house for Becky Carlson, former Hillsboro coach and teacher, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, in the Gordon Mohn Activity Center at Hillsboro Elementary School

The open house is to celebrate her recent induction into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame and to reconnect with the longtime Hillsboro High School girls? basketball and volleyball coach and elementary physical education teacher.

A short time for sharing memories and stories is planned for 3 p.m.

Carlson has continued her teaching and coaching career at Iola since leaving Hillsboro in 2005.

Goertzen to share Mennonite stories

Peggy Goertzen, director of the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies, Tabor College, Hillsboro, will present a program titled ?Stories of the Mennonite Immigration to Kansas? at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 26, at Fellowship Hall, Messiah Lutheran Church, in Lindsborg.

The program is part of the Smithsonian traveling exhibition ?Journey Stories? in Lindsborg.

Kansas became home for numerous groups of Germans from Russia, including Mennonites. The story of their coming to Kansas is about a search for both religious and economic freedom.

Free DVD lesson offers money help

The First Mennonite Church in Burns is sponsoring a free DVD event at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 26, at the Burns Community Building in Burns.

?Learn how to dump debt fast with national speaker, author, and financial expert Dave Ramsey,? said pastor Arlen Busenitz of First Mennonite Church in Burns.

This DVD will cover 15 myths and truths about debt and is educational, entertaining and motivational, he said.

For more information, call Busenitz at 620-726-5860.

Lake Chat and Dine Club plans potluck

The next potluck dinner for the Marion County Park and Lake Chat and Dine Club will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Lake Hall.

?The theme will be Hawaiian, so wear your tropical clothes,? said Paul White, one of the organizers.

Those planning to attend are asked to bring a main or side dish. Appetizers and dessert will be furnished.

?Bring a guest and come prepared for a fun evening,? White said. For more information, call 620-382-2900.

Pastor completes ministry in Goessel

Leland ?Lee? Suderman, a 1961 Hillsboro High School graduate and former Tabor College faculty member from 1965-69, has completed a five-year ministry as lead pastor at the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church in Goessel.

Suderman said he has also retired from his full-time careers in publishing and pastoral work.

He holds degrees from Wichita State University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill.

He and his wife, Dilores Rempel Suderman, reside at the Kidron-Bethel Retirement Village in North Newton.

Suderman said he plans to continue part-time in his interests of consulting, writing, teaching and church music.

Drug free action team plans event

The Chase County Drug Free Action Team in Strong City is sponsoring a Leadership in Teens Conference Aug. 20-21, said Kitty Frank, organizing the event.

The camp is in Elmdale and continuing education unit (CEU) credits can be arranged.

For more information, costs or to register, e-mail: chasecountydrugfree@gmail.com or call 620-273-6614 or 620-794-1113.

Volunteers help distribute materials

Residents of communities around Hillsboro who received a packet of religious information at their home the week of July 6, can credit the efforts of volunteers who helped the Cotton?wood Valley Baptist Church, Hillsboro, in a summer literature-distribution campaign.

Plato Shepherd, CVBC pastor, joined a team of seven volunteers from out-of-state led by Arvil Duncan, a pastor from Smithfield, Ky. The volunteers came at their own expense to help with the project.

More than 2,500 packets, prepared in advance by the CVBC congregation, were distributed in Marion, Peabody, Durham, Goessel, Canton and Galva.

Shepherd said CVBC had three first-time visitors Sunday morning as a direct result of these efforts; one returned Sunday evening.

Shepherd said he plans to continue placing the packets as time permits, both in town and country homes.

?Our desire is to reach ?who??so?ever? with the gospel,? he said.

USD 410 band camp July 27-29

A band camp is being offered for Hillsboro band students starting eighth- through 12th-grade from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, July 27-29, with a parade at 5:30 p.m. July 29.

The camp is sponsored by Hillsboro Public Schools, said Gregg Walker, director of bands.

Band T-shirts will be free to those attending all the rehearsals and the parade, he said.

?I need students to call as soon as possible and leave your name and T-shirt size,? he said. ?All high school students will need this band shirt for the year.?

For those unable to make the camp, the shirts are $12. For more information, e-mail: gregg.walker@usd410.net or call 620-877-7027.

Burdick Labor Day looking for couples

Organizers of the 37th annual Burdick Labor Day celebration and its theme of ?Bring Back the 50s? are looking for rock and roll participants.

The theme was also chosen to commemorate Centre High School?s 50th birthday, officials said.

The competition is limited to the first 10 couples, said Linda Peterson, coordinating the event. ?Those who sign up must dress in ?50s style clothes.

The Burdick Labor Day event is Sept. 6-7 with activities including a worship service, two-mile run, Elvis impersonator Mark Baker, pie auction, pedal power competition and more.

If interested in the rock and roll event or parade, call Peterson at 785-983-4353.

For more information about the celebration, call Jim and Marilyn Peterson for the fun run, 785-983-4844; Lee Shade for arts and crafts, 785-983-4367; Glenn Carlson, horseshoes, 785-983-4426; Darlene Gutsch, cookbooks, 785-983-4397; or Diana Jost, 785-983-4861 or Connie Johnson, 785-983-4459.

Immunization dates announced

No immunizations will be given Wednesday, Aug. 5 or Aug. 12.

?We will be open late from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19,? said Anita Hooper with Marion County Health Department. ?Also due to the Marion County Fair,? she said, ?we will not be open late July 29.?

Free classes focus on mental illness

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI, is sponsoring a free, 12-week Family-to-Family education course designed to help family, friends or neighbors of people with mental illness, said Beverly Martin, NAMI coordinator in McPherson. The first class is from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, at Messiah Lutheran Church, 401 N. First St., Lindsborg.

The series will include information about mental illnesses; medications and treatment; basic brain biology and research; handling crises; communication and problem-solving for and with someone with mental illness, care of the caregiver, and how to help reduce the stigma of mental illness.

?NAMI?s purpose is to focus on education about mental illnesses, providing resources and insisting mental illness becomes an American priority,? Martin said. ?Mental illness is a medical illness that affects one in four.?

For more information, call 620-241-6437 or 620-755-4234. Her e-mail address is: NAMI.McPherson@gmail.com.