? Community and kids celebrate completion of a dream Swarming on and around their new playground equipment, students at Hillsboro Elementary School showed off their new ?My Community Cares? T-shirts during Friday?s dedication event. After the ceremony, a back-to-school carnival followed in the gymnasium with games, door prizes and food. The event raised about $3,300 before expenses; the money will […]

On the apparatus are (from left) Claire Morey, Delaney Acton and Emily Gilkey. Free Press photos by Don Ratzlaff Talia Jost conquers a different climbing challenge. Photo Don Ratzlaff Second-graders at Hillsboro Elementary School enjoy the new playground equipment Monday that was part of a $215,000 project to replace the north playground and upgrade the west playground this summer. The […]

We may be far-removed from an island, but we?re living in its time zone this summer. Our family has limited commitments right now, and I?m relishing in the slowed-down pace of summertime. So when the calendar flipped to July, I had a brief moment of panic when I realized school shopping was a mere month away. But with 36 days […]

? Projects represent a $14 million investment. Among the projects in Hillsboro on tap for summer transformation will be the addition of turning lanes at the intersection of North Adams and U.S. Highway 56 Hillsboro City Admini?strator Larry Paine is thinking about putting this wel?come sign at the city limits as summer arrives. ?Pardon our dust. We?re under construction.? Between […]

? Work could begin this week, principal says. The days are numbered: HES north playground on an average dry day. Free Press file photo Hillsboro Elementary School received word Thurs?day that the Kansas Depart?ment of Health and Environ?ment will be funding a grant of $48,674 for the school?s playground project. It was the second largest grant issued from a total […]

The Hillsboro Elemen?tary School playground project took another step toward the fundraising goal with a garage sale Saturday at the school. Principal Evan Yoder said receipts haven?t been finalized, but it appears the project raised around $1,500. Organized by the HES Site Council, the event was one of the most successful fundraisers so far in an effort to upgrade or […]

?Cost estimate for project is $185,000 Almost one year ago, a group of parents decided new playground equipment was needed at Hillsboro Elementary School, but with a price tag of nearly $185,000, it seemed more like a dream than a reality. But for HES principal Evan Yoder and playground committee members, the outpouring of community support is what?s putting project […]

? This was a year when local economics was a common theme in many of our top stories. We?ll remember 2014 for a variety of reasons, but the local economy seemed to be what we talked about most. Following is our list of the Top 10 news stories for the year, based on short-term and long-term impact. Whether the events […]

Hillsboro Elementary School principal Evan Yoder reviews plans for the proposed school farm during the Dec. 8 USD 410 school board meeting. The project hit a speed bump the following Thursday when the Hillsboro Planning Committee tabled action on a conditional-use permit because of resident concerns. See story, Page 1. Aleen Ratzlaff / Free Press USD 410 building administrators gave […]

Volunteer playground committee is seeing the fruit of their efforts on a substantial challenge. Every school welcomes the contributions of parent volunteers, but one group of Hillsboro Elemen?tary School parents has taken volunteerism to a whole new level. What started as a willingness to join a committee to plan fundraisers to pay for some play?ground improvements has turned into a […]