By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

At least 179 posters were entered in the 2009 Marion County Conservation District poster contest. Winners were announced Saturday at the district’s annual banquet in Hillsboro.

Placing in the kindergarten-first grade category were Kelli Dyck, Hillsboro, first; Alayna Regier, Hillsboro, second; and Devin Gomez, Hillsboro, third.

The second-third grade winners were Edel Miller, Goessel, first; Eden Hiebert, Goessel, second; and Chloe McCauley, Goessel, third.

The fourth-sixth grade winners were Tyson Reimer, Hillsboro, first; Peter Claassen, Hillsboro, second; Kristin Vinduska, Centre, third; Vance Klassen, Hillsboro, honorable mention.

Rod Just of Hillsboro Elementary School received the Teacher’s Award.

Conservation winners, recently highlighted in local newspapers, also were recognized and received honorary plaques.

Russell Funk of Hillsboro and Gerald Rziha of Tampa were elected to the board of supervisors.

Robert Wilson, of Kansas State University Research and Extension, presented an overview of a new WRAPS (Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy) project to improve water quality in the Cottonwood River Basin.

The project covers an entire watershed found in portions of Marion, McPherson, Morris, Chase, and Lyon counties. It includes water quality monitoring, checking for stream bank erosion and health of aquatic species, measuring water supply and demand, and encouraging use of conservation practices.

Grover DePriest, the new supervisory district conservationist, was introduced. He began his duties Feb. 16 and replaces Gary Schuler, who retired Nov. 3, 2008.