Girl Scout cookies for sale March 28

The Marion Girl Scout Brownie Troop 30059 is selling cookies from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday, March 28. This is the last chance to buy Girl Scout cookies until next year.

Two booths will be staffed to make it easier for the public. The first cookie booth will be outside the Class 3A Weight?lifting Tournament at Marion High School. The second booth will be at Carlson?s Grocery.

Cookies are $3.50 for each box. Proceeds from the cookie sales go to fund activities for the Brownies and to support Girl Scouts of the Flint Hills.

For more information, contact Marsha Meyer at 620-382-7721.

Peabody church shows special film

The Peabody United Methodist Church is planning to show ?Fireproof? at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28, in Fellowship Hall, 403 Sycamore.

?Many people have shared how this movie has changed their lives and improved their marriages,? said Noreen Weems, one of the organizers.

Comments about the movie included how it speaks to the heart of all people regardless of gender, age or marital status.

?Complimentary beverages and popcorn will be served and childcare will be provided for infants and toddlers,? said Noreen Weems, one of the organizers.

For more information, call 620-983-2154.

Preschool fair beginning April 3

Preschool application fairs will soon be held in Hillsboro, Peabody and Marion. The first fair is scheduled from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, April 3, at the Hillsboro Elementary School Cafeteria, 812 East A St.

Parents planning to enroll their children are asked to bring birth certificate, immunization records and proof of income.

?There are a lot of ways to qualify for our preschool,? said Karen Fryhover, Hillsboro Family Advocate. ?The basic requirements are that you live within Marion County and your child must be at least 3 years old by Aug. 31.?

In addition, applications are being accepted for Head Start, 4-year-old at-risk and peer spots.

For more information, call Keli Wray, teacher, or Fryhover at 620-947-3981. Marion Preschool Application Fair is Monday, April 6, and in Peabody, Monday, April 13. Times for both fairs will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Bishop coming for March 29 service

Holy Transfiguration Ortho?dox Christian Church will be hosting Bishop Basil Essey on March 29 for the Service of the Divine Liturgy.

This will be the beginning of the fourth week of Lenten Services in which the church will be commemorating St. John Climacus.

Bishop Basil presides over St. George Cathedral in Wichita and is the bishop over the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America.

The public is invited to come at 9 a.m. for Orthros and 10 a.m. for Divine Liturgy. A fellowship meal follows the service.

Shots unavailable Wednesday, April 1

No nurse will be available to give immunization shots Wed?nesday, April 1, at the Marion County Health Department, said Anita Hooper, LPN.

For more information, call 620-382-2550

Marion Library sets Lunch n? Learn

The Marion County Library will have a Lunch n? Learn program from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 8.

The program, ?What?s fine in 2009 from A-Z,? in spring gardening will be presented by Sharon Boese from The Garden Center in Hillsboro.

Lunch will be provided for $5 and reservations are needed by Friday, April 3.

?Space is limited, so call the library to reserve your space,? said Janet Marler, librarian.

For more information, call 620-382-2442.

Open house for school additions

The public is invited to an open house for the new facilities added to the Hillsboro elementary school and high school this past year.

The event will be from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 30.

At the elementary school, the new resources include remodeled classrooms and the newly named Gordon Mohn Commun?ity Center.

At the high school, the new facilities include a new weight room, locker rooms and a remodeled science room.

Wellness center offers weight check

Greenhaw Wellness Center is open Tuesdays and Thursdays for anyone interested in checking body weight, fat percentages and bone and muscle mass at a cost of $10.

To make an appointment, call Jeanne Rziha at 620-947-3048.

Kids Connection enrollment starts

Kids Connection, a daycare and preschool program, is taking applications for the 2009-10 school year, said Tracy Hefley, director.

Preschool is open to children ages 3, 4, and 5. Children must be 3 on or before Aug. 31 to be eligible. Early enrollment begins at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 28, during the sloppy joe/auction fundraising event at the Hillsboro Menno?nite Brethren Church, 300 Prairie Pointe, Hillsboro.

Regular enrollment is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, March 30.

Kids Connection, a not-for-profit organization, is housed in the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.

For more information, call Hefley at 620-947-3004.

New choir cards on sale this week

The Hillsboro High School vocal department will be selling new choir value cards beginning this week. The cards can be presented at area businesses for discounts.

Cards are good from April 1 through Sept. 3 and offer discounts from Alco, Ampride, Brenda?s Bloomers, Jess? Tresses, Mary?s Mats & More, Nancy?s Fashions, Odds N Ends, Quick Flick, Quilts and QuiltRacks, Rod?s Tire & Service, The Cut Above, Thee Bookstore, Sonic and Vogts.

Cards can be purchased for $10 from any high school choir member, or by calling vocal director Lynn Just at the high school.

Funds raised cover the cost of the biennial choir trip to Caval?cade of Music in Colorado Springs. The Concert Choir placed first at the festival in 2008.

Fundraiser/auction planned March 28

Kids Connection Preschool and Child Care Center is having a fundraiser beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church Fellowship Hall, 300 Prairie Pointe.

All proceeds will go toward expanding playground equipment for the center.

The sloppy joe meal is by donation. An auction will begin at 7 p.m. with Clint Seibel as auctioneer.

Items for the auction were donated by area businesses.

For more information, call Tracy Hefley, director of Kids Connection Preschool and Child Care Center at 620-947-3004.

County GOP elects officers, delegates

The Marion County Republi?can Central Committee met to reorganize and select officers on Thursday evening, March 19, in the Marion City Municipal Building.

Elected as officers were: Todd Heitschmidt, Marion, chairman; Rose Davidson, Marion, vice-chair; Faye Makovec, Marion, secretary; and CleoBeth Friesen, Hillsboro, treasurer.

Delegates to the First Congressional District will be Heitschmidt and Davidson. Elected by the committee as alternate delegates were Greg Davidson, Marion, and Clint Seibel, Hillsboro.

Digital photo class signup deadline set

Digital Photo Design 101, sponsored by Hillsboro Recreation Commission, is a class open to anyone interested in learning the art of digital photography in six sessions.

Classes will be held Tuesday evenings (March 31, April 14, 21, 28, May 5 and 12) at Hillsboro City Building, 118 E. Grand Ave. (east room).

The signup deadline is Friday, March 27. Cost is $25 for six sessions. For more information, call Doug Sisk, recreation director, at 620-947-3490.

New sheriff to talk at Kiwanis Club

Marion County Sheriff Rob Craft, newly-elected to his position, is the guest speaker at the noon Tuesday, April 7, meeting of Hillsboro Kiwanis Club.

Meetings are held at Hillsboro City Hall, 118 E. Grand Ave. Non-members can make meal reservations with Kirby Rector at 620-947-5437.

Women educators offer scholarship

Women educators in Marion County from the Alpha Omega Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International will name an incentive award winner in May.

The award is given annually, said Carol Duerksen, one of the coordinators, to encourage young women to enter the field of education.

Young women who are graduates of any Marion County high school, plan to major in education and plan to attend a Kansas college or university, are eligible to apply.

Selection is based on academics, financial need and character.

The amount of the award will be determined by the money available for scholarship funding each year.

To receive an application, call Duerksen, 620-367-2408. The deadline for completed applications is Monday, April 27.

County schools plan screenings

Kindergarten screenings are planned around the county over the next few weeks.

Parents with a preschooler eligible for kindergarten in the 2009-10 school year are asked to call either the Centre, Goessel, Hillsboro or Marion elementary school offices.

Children need to be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31 to be eligible for kindergarten.

Centre will have screenings Friday, April 3. No preschool or kindergarten classes will meet that day. To make an appointment, call 785-983-4304.

In Goessel, the screenings will be Friday, March 27, at Goessel Mennonite Church. Parents can call 620-367-8118 to schedule an appointment.

Hillsboro Elementary School has planned its round-up for April 2-3 at the school. To set up an appointment, call 620-947-3981.

Parents in USD 408 Marion-Florence can call Deb Shipman at 620-382-3771 or 800-498-2014 to set up an appointment for the evaluation on March 23.