Maxwell trail ride set for Oct. 20, 21

Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, located north of Canton, will host a Santa Fe Trail ride Oct. 20 and 21.

Cost is $50 per person for the 18-mile ride. The fee includes a guided ride, lunch on the trail, campfire supper, overnight campout, Sunday breakfast and a tour of the Smoky Hill prairie. Participants should bring their own horses.

For a registration from, call 620-628-4455, mornings only.

Zion Lutheran to celebrate 125 years?

Zion Lutheran Church will celebrate 125 years of ministry in Hillsboro with a come-and-go open house from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26 at the church, 106 N. Lincoln.

Kuchen, pfeffernuse, coffee and tea will be served. The public is invited to attend.

Library book sale to begin Sept. 26?

Hillsboro Public Library will begin its annual book sale at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 26, in the Hillsboro City Building.

Proceeds from the sale will go toward the library?s book budget.

The library is currently weeding its VHS tape collection and replacing movies with DVD format. The videos are on sale in the library for $1 each. Proceeds from the VHS sales will fund DVD purchases.

Canton fall festival set for Sept. 27

The city of Canton will hold its first Fall Harvest Festival from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 on Main Street.

Events include a scarecrow contest with a $75 first place prize, a parade and farmers? market booths. The Chamber of Commerce will offer a meal of stew, chili, bierocks and corn on the cob.

For more information, or to enter the parade, call 620-628-4455.

Goessel Crop Walk set for Sept. 21

The Goessel-area Crop Walk is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, leaving from Alexan?derwohl Mennonite Church.

Walkers should meet at 1:15 p.m. at the shelter house.

The event supports Church World Service, with donations helping families in need overseas. One-fourth of the donations will support the local Tabor Food Pantry. Walkers and donations are still welcome.

For more information, call Denise Nickel, 620-367-2226.

VA benefits to be topic of discussion

American Legion Post 366 will host an informational meeting at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, at the Hillsboro American Legion, 405 Floral Drive.

Veterans and their families who have questions regarding VA benefits are urged to attend the meeting.

The meeting is part of the Legion?s annual American Legion Veterans Affairs Tour when state and district officers visit each of the American Legion Posts in Kansas.

Creation, evolution are event?s focus

Parkview Mennonite Breth?ren Church, Hillsboro, is inviting the public to a free, all-day ?Answers Conference? about creation and evolution on Sunday, Oct. 19.

The guest speaker will be Terry Mortenson, a lecturer and researcher from Answers in Genesis based in Petersburg, Ky.

The topics for the day include: ?Creation vs. Evolution: Why It Matters,? ?Dinosaurs: Have You Been Brainwashed?,? ?The Origin of Species: Was Darwin Right?? and ?Noah?s Flood: Washing Away Millions of Years.?

For more information, call the church at 620-947-2338.

Newton library hosts genealogy event

The Newton Public Library, 720 N. Oak, will host a workshop ?Branches and Roots: Using Cemetery, Obituary and Military Records to Unearth Your Family?s History? from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27.

Darren McMannis will be the featured morning presenter.

In the afternoon, local experts will be on hand to share the resources available through the organizations they represent, as well as answer any questions the participants might bring.

The panel of experts includes Margaret Hermstein from the Register of Deeds office, Jane Jones from the Harvey County Historical Museum and Archives, Lois Prater from the local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter, John Thiesen, from the Mennonite Library and Archives at Bethel College, and Diana Wedel from the Family History Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Presenter McMannis has been active in genealogy since 1992. He is the coordinator of the Harvey County GenWeb site, is on the Board of the Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies, updates ancestorhunters.com, and is a member of the Harvey County Genealogical Society for whom he publishes the Homesteader newsletter.

This event is co-sponsored by the DAR, Newton chapter, and Newton Public Library and is free and open to the public. Call 316-283-2890 to register or for more information.

Unruh to celebrate her 80th birthday

An open house will be hosted by the family of Darlene Unruh in celebration of her 80th birthday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, at the First Mennonite Church fellowship hall in Hillsboro.

She was born Sept. 29, 1928, at rural Tampa. On March 21, 1948, she was married to Leonard Unruh at Friedenstal Mennonite Church. The couple operated a dairy farm in rural Tampa. Darlene moved to Hillsboro in 1994.

Children are Terry Unruh of Hillsboro, Keith and Wanda Unruh of Assaria, and Daryl Unruh of Lenexa. Son Sheldon died in 1977. She has five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

No gifts please. Cards can be sent to 411 W. Grand, Hillsboro, KS 67063.

Penner to mark 90th birthday

An open house is planned to honor Ruth Penner?s 90th birthday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, at the Hillsboro Senior Center. Friends and relatives are invited to attend.

Penner was born Sept. 20, 1918, to David and Helena Klassen Hiebert. On May 22, 1940, she was married to Orlando Penner.

If unable to attend the celebration, cards can be sent to her at 704 S. Ash, Apt. 8, Hillsboro, KS 67063.

Mohn family meets in Hillsboro Aug. 31

The Christian Mohn family reunion was Sunday, Aug. 31, at the Hillsboro Senior Center for a noon meal.

A Saturday evening meal was provided at the Oliver Mohn home in Hillsboro.

Attending the reunion were John and Jeannie LoFranco, Darrell and Francee Flaming, Diana Becker and Bob Hardman, all of San Jose, Calif.; Ken and Patty Becker of Denver, Colo.; Jeryl and Vicki Mohn of Houston, Texas; Jesse and Henrietta Helzer and Tom and Kathy Sweeney, all of Thomas, Okla.; Ryan and Risa Haug of Wichita; Russell and Kara Haug of Park City; Gordon and Vicky Mohn of McPherson; Karen Haug of Jetmore; Tiffany Haug of Hays; Jim and Eileen Ames of Thomas; Anthony and Erin Dilks and family, Donnie and Jena Kluver and family of Hesston; Calvin, Connie and Christopher Mohn of Burlington; Loren and Marjorie Albright of Florence; Loren and Connie Albright; Cliff and Karen Inman of Topeka; Jason and Rachel Mohn and family of Salina; Chris and Joy McCoy of Springfield, Mo.; Bob Hart of Neodesha; Noreen and Mickey Weems of Peabody; Amanda and Justin Westerfield of Kansas City; Frank and Shari Prescher of Chapman; and Oliver and Marcella Mohn of Hillsboro.

Cards welcomed for Kottwitz?s 90th

The family of Frances Kottwitz requests a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday, which is September 22. Cards should be addressed to her at St. Luke Living Center, 1014 E. Melvin, Marion, KS 66861.

Deines reunion set for Sunday, Oct. 5

The Deines family reunion will be at noon Sunday, Oct. 5 at the Lincolnville Community Building. Participants are asked to bring a basket dinner and table-service. Drinks will be provided.

Card shower for Mueller?s 80th

A card shower is requested in honor of Betty Mueller?s 80th birthday Sept. 21.

Cards can be sent to 1540 340th, Tampa, KS 67483.

Vogts brothers from Canton to celebrate 80th birthdays

Richard and Robert Vogts, Canton, will celebrate their 80th birthday Sept. 23.

They were born in 1928 at Canton, on the family farm. Both have been lifetime residents of Canton.

Richard married Lavera Westerman in May 1956, in Nashville, and Robert married Barbara Wilkening in Decem?ber 1958, in Canton.

Richard has spent his lifetime farming south of Canton, and Robert worked in carpentry and construction.

Richard?s children and spouses are Jeffrey and Connie Vogts, Sublette, Kelly and Laura Vogts, McPherson, Verlin Vogts, Canton and Milton and Julie Vogts, McPherson. He has 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Robert?s daughter is Michelle Vogts of Parker, Colo.