Hillsboro Free Press

City Administrator Matt Stiles presented a proposal to increase firefighter pay at the Tuesday city council meeting. Currently, the department pays $12.50 per run for firefighters and $17.34 to the chief and assistant chief. The requested increase was to $15 per run for firefighters and $20 per run for the chief and assistant chief. Stiles said the department members are paid semi-annually, for runs from December through May and June to November. Stiles said, in researching how other departments in the state function, most are volunteer and employee hybrid. However, other departments’ volunteer compensation runs from totally volunteer with no payment, [...]

Peabody, KS Peabody Police and Fire Departments are better equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to respond to medical calls during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to a grant from Peabody Community Foundation (PCF) to Marion County Emergency Services. Randy Frank, county Emergency Management Director, presented supplies including gloves, face shields, masks, and gowns on July 7 at the Peabody Fire Station to Peabody police and firefighters. (Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)

A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives. – Jackie Robinson. This quote sums up Hillsboro City Administrator Larry Paine, not just because it was said by a baseball player, but because it so accurately describes all of Paine’s professional life. Paine has spent all of his career serving others. Even in the very beginning. After growing up in Bakersfield, CA, Paine started out in the military. He started out in the state of Washington where he served for almost three years. He worked as a public information officer. “That experience has proved valuable in [...]

The Marion County Board of Commissioners met on Monday, June 8. All were in attendance at the courthouse. The meeting opened with the usual updates on COVID-19. Health Department Administrator Diedre Serene stated that there are no new cases which has been the situation for several weeks now. She suggested that for now, the weekly COVID-19 updates be suspended as Marion County seems to have accomplished the goal of flattening the curve and stopping the spread of the virus. Serene asked that everyone remember to be safe and follow the same suggestions she has been giving along the way such as [...]

Most people who live in Goessel and those who have attended the Goessel Unified School District 411 in the last 24 years know who John Fast is. The soft-spoken man who clearly loves all things education as well as the town of Goessel, has spent most of his career teaching and being an administrator in the small town. Fast worked in education for 38 years. He started his career teaching fourth-grade science in Wichita and taught there for two years. Fast then went to Halstead for 12 years teaching elementary and middle school science and working as a curriculum director. In [...]

Today, the City Council voted to close the municipal swimming pool for the 2020 summer season.  “This was not an easy decision” said Mayor Lou Thurston. “My heart says one thing, my head says another.  In the end, it doesn’t appear that we can keep the pool open and keep social distancing and the CDC/Kansas Parks & Recreation Association cleaning guidelines to keep pool employees and the public safe. Safety of our children and their families is more important than the risk of opening the pool.” We realize this may not be a popular decision and regret it had to be [...]

Diedre Serene, Marion County Health Department Administrator, gave her weekly update at the beginning of the May 18 Marion County Board of Commissioners meeting. She stated that it doesn’t make sense to test for COVID-19 if a person doesn’t have symptoms. “You could be negative today and turn positive tomorrow. Testing negative today does not even tell if you were exposed or not. It just tells if you are growing the virus,” said Serene. Serene explained how the Governor’s new orders for phase 1.5 impacts Marion County. She said the county is in line to follow the Governor’s orders so she [...]

Marion County Health Department Health Administrator Diedre Serene explained to the Commissioners during their May 11 meeting that cases will not be taken off the case count once they have recovered. The number will not go down. “At this time all of our cases are out of quarantine (minus the one death) and they pose no risk to the community at this time,” said Serene. “The KDHE has very good guidance for business owners as well as families. As we learn more about the virus, the guidelines change as well as while we move through these phases. And don’t forget to [...]

Donors in Peabody have committed over $5000 to the Peabody Community Foundation (PCF) Community Relief Fund in support of the COVID-19 relief efforts. As a result of incoming donations and anticipated needs, the PCF board took action to open The Peabody Community Relief Fund. “I was contacted two weeks ago by a supporter of PCF wondering what we were going to do in the face of economic hardship brought on by the pandemic,” said Becky Nickel, PCF Director. “The board took action so that funds can be granted locally.” The Peabody Community Relief Fund is not a traditional endowment, but rather [...]

The Goessel city council met on March 16 and heard from city clerk Jennifer Bliss that it is important for city residents to fill out the census form and send it in. She said the census affects how much grant money the city can receive. Turning their attention to another matter, the council mentioned the Coronavirus situation. The council will monitor the situation and make decisions accordingly. The city is asking residents to take precautions, to prepare for what might come to ensure each household’s health and well-being, and that of the community. (Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)