By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Emily, Hailey, and Chloe Gilkey got their chance to play doctor at Saturday’s Marion County Health Fair.

The girls each gave physicals to teddy bears at Hillsboro Community Hospital’s booth. They listened to the bears’ heartbeats, checked their eyes, mouths, and ears, and gave them flu shots.

When Emily finished checking out the teddy bear, she told him he gets “a big thumbs-up.”

One bear, who didn’t get a physical, was Smoky Bear, accompanied by Hillsboro Fire Chief Ben Stekettee.

Smoky was a hit with the children at the fair, but his sidekick, Fire Pup, was unable to come.

Saturday’s cold, foggy weather may have dampened attendance, with 167 people coming to the fair to learn about health organizations, have blood tests, and get flu shots.

Jessica Gilbert, office manager for Marion County Health Department, said the winner of a drawing for two pies donated by FamLee bakery was a Cottonwood Falls woman.

“The majority came from Marion and Hillsboro, as expected,” Gilbert said.

While at the health fair, they got to interact with St. Luke Hospital and Hillsboro Community Hospital, Circles of Marion County, Marion County Emergency Medical Service, Lifeteam, Health Ministries Clinic, dental care providers, assisted living and nursing care providers, chiropractors, and an assortment of other health-related vendors.