Progress marked by Hillsboro’s changing landscape

By NEIL O. NELSON
City leaders no doubt look at progress as challenging.
Residents might consider progress a nuisance.
School administrators see progress and immediately factor in the additional students it promises.
Business owners simply see great potential in progress.
Webster defines progress: a moving forward; 2 development; 3 improvement.
Having said that, Hillsboro in the summer of 2007 defines progress.
Hillsboro is a city literally under construction with work zones everywhere in town and outside its city limits defined, designed and designated by cordoned off construction barriers, building permits filed with city hall and news accounts tracking the building progress.

Potential of downtown Hillsboro realized

By NEIL O. NELSON
Work has started downtown Hillsboro at two locations in the same city block.
The two store front buildings have been a part of Hillsboro’s downtown for decades. The one-time bank building has anchored the south side of Caledonia Ave., downtown Hillsboro, for most of the last century.
Jerry Harmon, Bismarck, has purchased the two-story brick building adjacent the Sports Bar and Grill from Connie Kamesch, longtime Hillsboro businessman.
Harmon, a Bismarck developer, is the owner of several retail Bismarck properties.

Sarge Preston riding into retirement

By ANNA AUSTIN
Duane “Sarge” Preston has an eye for potatoes.
That’s a given.
But now the authority on the subject of potatoes is keeping any eye out for what the world offers a retired Duane Preston.
Not a tired Duane Peston, but a retired Duane Preston.
Having worked in the potato industry for 43 years, Sarge Preston has ventured into retirement.
“I’m just slowing down a little,” he says, smiling.
“Changing work a bit.”

School board puts tax cut on hold; wants more discussion before decision

By MICHELLE MCLEAN
Proceed with caution.
Hillsboro School Board members were reluctant to approve a district-wide tax cut until they saw the school district’s own tax bill for special assessments related to city improvement projects.
At least that’s what the discussion at the board table sounded like.
Unspoken at last Thursday night’s meeting was the polite disagreement among board members about reversing a 2005 tax increase. Embroiled in a tax dispute with American Crystal Sugar since 2003 and unable to access more than $850,000 in tax revenues, the board decided at the time to raise necessary operating funds by increasing taxes by 12 mills — with the stated intent to decrease the levy when the tax dispute was settled.

July 27, 2007

50 YEARS AGO
July 25, 1957 — Hillsboro city commissioners called for bids to erect a mausoleum for the city-owned Elmwood Cemetery. The fireproof building would provide storage for 24 caskets during the winter months when the ground is frozen.
Two steers were killed on the highway east of Mayville when they were struck by a passing car.
In district court, a Grand Forks man was sentenced to $15 or 30 days in jail for drunkedness. A Fargo man was ordered to pay a $41.50 fine for driving under the influence.
Hillsboro’s Civic and Commerce Association reminded shoppers: “Don’t be blinded by out-of-town shopping lures — big bargains, glib promises. Look around and you’ll find your best buys are here. Shop in your community.”

Arno “Bun” Satrom

Arno D. “Bun” Satrom, 81, Clifford, N.D. died Saturday, July 21, 2007 at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Fargo, N.D.
Memorial services were Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at Elm River Lutheran Church in Galesburg. Burial was in Galesburg Cemetery.
Quam-Plaisted-Cushman Funeral Home of Cooperstown, N.D. was in charge of arrangements.

Eunice Meyer

Eunice Mabel Meyer, 86, Hillsboro, N.D. died Sunday, July 22, 2007 at the Hillsboro Medical Center.
Funeral services were Wednesday, July 25 at St. John Lutheran Church in Hillsboro. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery.
Wildeman Funeral Home of Hillsboro was in charge of arrangements.

Gertrude Grothmann

Gertrude M. Grothmann, 89, Hillsboro, N.D., formerly of Grandin, N.D., died Saturday, July 21, 2007 at the Hillsboro Medical Center Nursing Home.
Funeral services were Thursday, July 26 at Grace Lutheran Church in Grandin. Burial was in the Grandin Cemetery.
Wildeman Funeral Home of Hillsboro was in charge of arrangements.

Families welcome circus to town

Circus lovers turned out in droves Wednesday night to welcome the circus back to town.
The blue-and-white striped Big Top was filled to overflowing when the Culpepper and Merriweather Circus performed two shows on the grounds south of the armory.
“Fun, lots of fun,” said Don Foss, who led the circus committee for the Hillsboro Kiwanis Club, the local community service organization that sponsored the circus’ appearance this year and in 2005.
“Smiling kids everywhere,” Foss said. “They were really having a ball.”
On a warm, sunny evening, kids arrived with their parents in tow or with their grandparents leading the way. Either way, Foss said, the circus guaranteed fun for all ages. Cotton candy and pony rides on the midway readied youngsters for a night of fun under the tent. The man on stilts coaxed a smile from most everyone.

Step by brickyard step

By NEIL O. NELSON
Friends of downtown Hillsboro’s Union Block will be wearing smiles and aprons next Thursday night, when their fund-raiser at the Community Center starts at 5 p.m.
The July 26 event will last until 8 p.m.
Hopefully, the grilled hamburgers and homemade pies will be gone by then and the crowd serving the evening meal and the expected guests can return home satisfied with both the grilled burgers and the fact that the community once again answered a fund-raising invitation.