Five years ago

n The meetinghouse of the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church was destroyed by fire on Sunday. The structure had an assessed value of $2.3 million. Between 800 and 100 firefighters from from 10 communities battled the blaze. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

n The Hillsboro High School boys? basketball team qualified for a berth in the Class 3A state tournament with a 58-44 win over Hesston in the finals of the sub-state tournament at Hills?boro. Tyler Peachey scored 14 points to pace the Trojans, who improved to 20-3.

n The Tabor College men lost to Sterling College in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship game, 60-57. Despite the loss, Tabor will compete in the NAIA Division II national tournament later this week.

n Tyson Ratzlaff, an HHS alum now playing for Tabor College, was a unanimous pick for the KCAC all-conference men?s basketball team. Don Brubacher was named coach of the year for leading the Bluejays to the regular-season title.

Ten years ago

n Brian Stucky, Goessel, is ready to release his new book on vintage basketball gymnasiums in Kansas. He photographed and wrote vignettes about 50 gymnasiums in the state that were built before 1950. The collection includes college and high school facilities.

n The Hillsboro City Council approved a Neighborhood Revitalization Project intended to spur building improvements in the city?s downtown core. The program offers tax incentives over a 10-year period to landowners who make the improvements.

n The Hillsboro High School girls? and boys? basketball teams qualified for the Class 3A state basketball tournament in Hutchinson later this week. The girls defeated Cheney, 41-35, in the championship game of the sub-state tournament in Halstead. Carmen Hein scored 16 points and Angela Kroeker 10 as the Trojans improved to 15-8. The undefeated boys? team (23-0) defeated Wichita Collegiate, 60-50. Grant Brubacher, Scott Brubacher and Tyson Ratzlaff led a balanced scoring attack with 12 points each and C.J. Hill added 11.

n Dan and Linda Peterson of Burdick recently were named ?Master Farmer? and ?Master Farm Homemaker,? respectively, by K-State Research and Exten?sion and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Petersons? 2,000-acre farm produces wheat, milo, soybeans and alfalfa. They also raise feeder cattle and hogs and promote soil conservation.