Marion County RECORD

HEADLINES

Hats are thrown in ring: Candidates file
Candidates filed for city and school board positions with the deadline being noon Tuesday. At press-time, the county clerk’s office had not been notified of all city filings. All cities in the county with the exception of Marion and all school boards will hold elections for council and board seats April 7. Burns:
County OKs recycling contract
Marion County took a big step Monday toward instituting a countywide recycling program when county commissioners voted 2-1 to approve a contract for recycling with Sonoco of Hutchinson. County Attorney Susan Robson had reviewed the contract, said Transfer Station Director Rollin Schmidt. Sonoco will pick up recyclables from the transfer station, and the county will be paid a portion of the market price for the goods.
Cities, step up! County needs help ith symphony
Marion County will provide $2,500 to help with the Prelude to the Symphony in the Flint Hills, in addition to the $2,500 spent in 2008, in the absence of support from cities that will benefit from the event. County Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman asked for the funds at Monday’s County Commission meeting. The money will help pay for mailings and advertising before, and entertainers and portable toilets during the event, which is expected to draw up to 30,000 visitors to Marion County in June.
Brooker family memorialized: Park board recommends place for plaque
An impressive plaque will find a place of prominence in Central Park, renaming it as Brooker Park. Marion City Council was told Monday the city’s park committee made a recommendation the plaque be placed with another plaque in the center of the park, just west of the gazebo.
Sweethearts for 70 years: Religion, humor keys to bliss
(Editor’s Note: This is a first in a series of love stories, leading to Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14) By ADAM STEWART Staff writer Faith always has been a central part of June and Lois Jost’s marriage. They first met at Youngtown Church.
Digital TV still coming -- just later than planned
For those procrastinators who still have not made preparations to purchase a new television or make plans to adapt their outdated TV, you still have some time before the conversion takes affect. Originally, viewers had until Feb. 17 before antenna users would be required to upgrade to digital receivers. However, on Monday, the Senate voted unanimously to postpone the upcoming transition another four months.
Cub Scouts show off designs
Thirty cub scouts and tiger cubs raced and displayed their creations, including replicas of the General Lee and the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile Sunday at Pack 102’s Pinewood Derby. Early in the event, the pack presented a $650 check to the Marion Ministerial Alliance for the Helping Hands program. The money came from popcorn sales. Scouts sold more than $13,000 of popcorn, Cubmaster Jackie Palic said.

DEATHS

John Hayen
John H. Hayen, 74, of rural Marion, died Jan. 20, 2009, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Marion. Born Feb. 26, 1934, in the Youngtown community near Marion, he was the son of Walter and Dorothy (Collett) Hayen.
Clara Kelsey
Clara Juanita Kelsey, born Oct. 13, 1927, in Marion, passed away Jan. 22, 2009, at her home in Dewey, Okla. Clara attended schools in the Marion school system through high school. In 1945, she went to Los Angeles, Calif., where she met Walter F. Adams, a Seabee in the U.S. Navy, and they later married in Albuquerque, N.M.
Roseva McLinden
Ruby Roseva Melson McLinden was born April 28, 1917, in Green City, Mo., to Joseph W. and Verna (Churchill) Melson. At the age of 4, she moved to a farming area east of Burns, known as Pleasant Valley, where she attended her eight years of grade school. She attended high school in Cedar Point. Her family then moved to Burns, where she graduated from Burns High School in 1935. She attended one year at El Dorado Junior College. She came home to help care for her mother, working odd jobs such as clerk in a drug store and going by bus to Florence to prepare the WPA payroll. She also babysat for two families.
Mary Myers
Mary E. Myers, 50, Burns, died Jan. 25 at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital, El Dorado. Born Aug. 30, 1958, in El Dorado, she was the daughter of Edwin and Carole (Blanck) Spangler.
LeRoy Riggs
H. LeRoy Riggs, 84, of Marion, died Jan. 21, 2009, at Memorial Hospital in McPherson. Born Feb. 2, 1924, in Burns, he was the son of Glenn and Julia (Bolen) Riggs.
Merton Wambsganss
Merton B. Wambsganss, 84, went to be with his Lord on Jan. 24, 2009, at the Good Samaritan Center, Hutchinson. Born Aug. 23, 1924, in Herington, he was the son of Bernard and Clara (Kuester) Wambsganss. His parents preceded him in death.

DOCKET

FARMING

Double alleyway adds efficiency to local cattle feeder's operation
When cattlemen purchase feeder calves, the first thing they do is run them through a “squeeze” chute to undergo vaccinations, tagging, and other essentials before being turned into a feedlot. Duane Carlson of Lincolnville buys 400-500-pound calves and raises them to 800-900 pounds before selling them. He recently used his expertise as an industrial engineer to build his own cattle-working facility.
Goessel native's pottery work shows influence of farming
Though potter Mark Goertzen no longer lives on the farm, the work he will exhibit Feb. 6 in Bethel College’s Fine Arts Center Gallery clearly shows a rural influence, he says. The first gallery exhibit of the new year is the fourth in a series honoring professor of art, Gail Lutsch.
A chance encounter
Longtime Marion rancher Rex Siebert tells the following story. It was the spring of 1947. I was in Marion at the west end of town, walking to my Model A Ford at a street corner. A Lincoln car with a middle-aged man wearing a light-colored Stetson hat and a white shirt stopped and said, “Hey, cowboy! Could you help me out? I’m looking for Fred Batt, do you know him?”

OPINION

Keep your germs to yourself
As the weather keeps fluctuating between fall and winter and people continue to spread flu germs, here at the newspaper office we’ve been hit with a number of “bugs.” Between respiratory infections, stomach flu, and general feelings of not feeling well, staff members have been taking turns staying home in the hope of making speedy recoveries.
Random Thoughts
Well, the big day arrived for the inauguration. It is a relief. What a day! I watched the TV all day. I even watched the train trip from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. It brought back the life of Abraham Lincoln. It also brought back the memory of our trip to Florence to see FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt. They came by train. It stopped for a short time and they came and stood on the back cars. A big crowd was there to welcome them.

PEOPLE

CORRESPONDENTS:
Burdick, St. Luke, Senior Center, Tampa
MEMORIES:
10, 25, 35, 50, 60, 100 years ago
WEDDINGS:
Linsea-Buchholz, Jennison-DaProza

SPORTS

Warriors finish eighth at Classic
Despite losing all three games this past week at the Trojan Classic, Marion High School boys’ basketball coach Jeff McMillin isn’t telling his team to forget everything that happened. After losing in the first round Jan. 20 to eventual runner-up Republic County, the Warriors (4-8) lost Thursday in the consolation semifinals to Wamego, 64-36, and Sunrise Academy in the seventh-place game, 57-45.
MHS girls take fourth at Trojan Classic
After a first-round victory Jan. 19 in the Trojan Classic, the Marion High School girls’ basketball team fell to Thomas More Prep and Hillsboro to take fourth place at the tournament. A 74-54 semifinal loss Thursday to TMP, set up a date with 6-6 Hillsboro for the third-place game.
Warrior wrestlers battle at Eureka invitational
With just seven wrestlers Saturday at the Eureka invitational, Marion High School placed ninth out of 20 teams with 87.5 points. Dillon Wildin bounced back from his first defeat of the year to take first place in the 140-pound bracket.
MMS girls end regular season
The Marion Middle School girls’ basketball teams wrapped up their regular seasons Saturday with home games against Hoisington. Two victories in three games this past week gave the A-team a 5-7 record heading into the Mid-Central Activities Association tournament, which begins Thursday.
MMS boys ends season, prepare for tournament
With three games this past week, all Marion Middle School boys’ basketball teams stayed busy. The A-team went 1-2 against Lyons, Reno Valley, and Hoisington, to finish the regular season at 6-6.
CENTRE:
Basketball

Marion County RECORD

An impressive plaque will find a place of prominence in Central Park, renaming it as Brooker Park. Marion City Council was told Monday the city’s park committee made a recommendation the plaque be placed with another plaque in the center of the park, just west of the gazebo.

(Editor’s Note: This is a first in a series of love stories, leading to Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14) By ADAM STEWART Staff writer Faith always has been a central part of June and Lois Jost’s marriage. They first met at Youngtown Church.

John H. Hayen, 74, of rural Marion, died Jan. 20, 2009, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Marion. Born Feb. 26, 1934, in the Youngtown community near Marion, he was the son of Walter and Dorothy (Collett) Hayen.

Mary E. Myers, 50, Burns, died Jan. 25 at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital, El Dorado. Born Aug. 30, 1958, in El Dorado, she was the daughter of Edwin and Carole (Blanck) Spangler.

H. LeRoy Riggs, 84, of Marion, died Jan. 21, 2009, at Memorial Hospital in McPherson. Born Feb. 2, 1924, in Burns, he was the son of Glenn and Julia (Bolen) Riggs.

Merton B. Wambsganss, 84, went to be with his Lord on Jan. 24, 2009, at the Good Samaritan Center, Hutchinson. Born Aug. 23, 1924, in Herington, he was the son of Bernard and Clara (Kuester) Wambsganss. His parents preceded him in death.

Though potter Mark Goertzen no longer lives on the farm, the work he will exhibit Feb. 6 in Bethel College’s Fine Arts Center Gallery clearly shows a rural influence, he says. The first gallery exhibit of the new year is the fourth in a series honoring professor of art, Gail Lutsch.

CORRESPONDENTS:

MEMORIES:

WEDDINGS:

After a first-round victory Jan. 19 in the Trojan Classic, the Marion High School girls’ basketball team fell to Thomas More Prep and Hillsboro to take fourth place at the tournament. A 74-54 semifinal loss Thursday to TMP, set up a date with 6-6 Hillsboro for the third-place game.

With just seven wrestlers Saturday at the Eureka invitational, Marion High School placed ninth out of 20 teams with 87.5 points. Dillon Wildin bounced back from his first defeat of the year to take first place in the 140-pound bracket.

The Marion Middle School girls’ basketball teams wrapped up their regular seasons Saturday with home games against Hoisington. Two victories in three games this past week gave the A-team a 5-7 record heading into the Mid-Central Activities Association tournament, which begins Thursday.

With three games this past week, all Marion Middle School boys’ basketball teams stayed busy. The A-team went 1-2 against Lyons, Reno Valley, and Hoisington, to finish the regular season at 6-6.

CENTRE: