Hillsboro Banner

By MICHELLE MCLEAN

Wally Christopher is “approaching 90” — and he’s contemplating a sequel.

About a year ago, the former Hillsboro farmer published a 58-page book with stories and photos of his days in the Army during World War II.

Christopher planned to print five copies of “A Soldier’s Life” for his wife and four children. Instead about 100 copies have been printed and distributed to friends and family from coast to coast. He’s sold out but another batch is due from the printer this week.

He’s got more stories to tell, he says. A sequel may be in order.  (more…)

By MICHELLE MCLEAN

Hwy. 200 — yes or no?

At their Monday night meeting, Hillsboro city commissioners revisited what seemed like a done deal — the reconstruction of Hwy. 200.

The $3 million project is on the N.D. Department of Transportation’s construction schedule for the summer of 2008. On a 3-2 vote, city commissioners gave the project a green light in July. At the time, concerns about the design and cost of the project divided the commission.

Some paperwork — and some new cost-sharing figures — from the NDDOT prompted another vote on the project Monday.

By a 3-1 vote, commissioners agreed to move forward with the project — at least for now.  (more…)

By KaITLIN GUDZ

Hillsboro’s new pre-kindergarten program is off to a good head start.

The early education program combines a pre-kindergarten curriculum with Head Start regulations to create the first Hillsboro Pre-Kindergarten program. It is housed in the Hillsboro Elementary School and opened for classes September 4.

The Head Start regulations are extremely comprehensive, thereby fostering a very high quality pre-kindergarten program. There are Monday, Wednesday and Friday sessions as well as Tuesday and Thursday sessions taught by Julie Nelson, assisted by Twila Burd and Lori Kritzberger.

The program was constructed to follow the local school district’s calendar, therefore making it convenient for parents who have other children in the school.  (more…)

By NEIL O. NELSON

Member of Hillsboro’s Osmon-Lane Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4172 meeting this week reinforced the post’s decision to continue the tradition of scheduling Veterans Day at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month.

Hillsboro will observe Veterans Day on Sunday (Nov. 11), with the program starting at 11 a.m. in the Hillsboro Events Center.

“We’re sure to have a few bruises,” acknowledged Rich Gehrke, VFW post commander and a Vietnam veteran.

Recognizing the conflict people will have with Sunday’s church services, Gehrke is hoping Hillsboro community residents will understand the VFW’s desire to continue the Veterans Day tradition. (more…)

Hardly anticlimactic, because there’s still turkeys to be won, but the Banner’s Mystery Person has been uncovered.

Discovered.

Found.

Located.

Unearthed.

No, that’s not true, considering she’s generally in her office at her desk, but Leslie Connelly was indeed found by Sherryl Leum at city hall.

At the start of this week, Sherryl, before leaving city hall, searched and found Leslie.  (more…)

Chris Mayo, 45, Austin, Texas, formerly of Hillsboro, N.D., died Wednesday, October 31, 2007 after an aggressive battle with adrenal cancer.
A memorial service was held Saturday, November 3 in Lockart. The family is planning a memorial service in Hillsboro at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Chris’ memory to Christopher Hospice House, Austin, Texas or the American Cancer Society.

Chad Brannon, 43, Casper, Wyoming, died Saturday, November 3, 2007 in Casper of complications of diabetes.
A memorial services was held Thursday, November 8, 2007 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Casper.
Bustard’s Funeral Home of Casper was in charge of arrangements.

Glenn “Mac” Mackereth, 80, Pike Lake, Minn., died Monday, November 5, 2007 in St. Mary’s Hospice in Duluth, Minn.
Funeral services will be Saturday, November 10, 2007 at noon at Pike Lake Presbyterian Church.
Dougherty Funeral Home of Duluth is in charge of arrangements.

50 YEARS AGO
October 31, 1957 — Hillsboro Community Hospital kicked off its annual fund drive. Chairman Art Magnuson announced a goal of $7,000 to fund a new heating system and window replacement. Forty-five volunteers were to assist with a door-to-door campaign.
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Hillsboro celebrated the laying of the cornerstone for its new education building. The stone was engraved with “1957″ and Psalm 27, “Teach me thy way, O Lord.”
Hillsboro High School’s football team won the RRVC crown with a 3-3-1 record. The Burros were best in the conference with wins over Mayville, Hatton and Portland and a tie against Larimore. They lost exhibition games again East Grand Forks, Cooperstown and Oak Grove. (more…)

…the students studying journalism looked at me sideways when I told them what to expect if they entered the world of print journalism — newspapers, in other words; weekly papers, to be specific.

“You don’t get sick and you don’t take vacations.”

I’m not done, I intoned. You have a deadline to meet every week. You’ll work nights, attend countless meetings and you’ll be expected to be at every — I repeat, every — sporting event in your community.

If your wife is pregnant, tell her to have the baby on the weekend. Otherwise, she’s on her own. (more…)