Marion County RECORD

HEADLINES

Teen golfer battles a new hazard: rare spinal cancer
In what seems like a blink of an eye, a family’s life went from normal to scary uncertainty. More than six weeks ago, Thane Hurst was an average 14-year-old Hillsboro High School freshman with a passion for golf.
Youths take to the streets to paint the town red (and other colors)
Jobs program is painting the town red — and other colors By SUSAN BERG Managing editor When asked what they are doing this summer, teens typically say they are watching TV, hanging out with friends. baby-sitting for siblings, swimming, helping around the house, playing video games, or doing “nothing much.”
Bicyclists practice what they preach
“How did you spend your summer vacation?” Three young people from Colorado and New Mexico, will have an interesting answer when they tell of meeting strangers and seeing the U.S. from the seat of a bicycle.
Cancer relay raises nearly $50,000
Relay for Life of Marion County raised more than $49,500 this weekend. Twenty-two teams participated. More than 70 survivors and caregivers took the opening lap of the relay Friday night in USD 408 Sports Center after unpredictable weather prompted a move indoors.
Hillsboro to celebrate 125th anniversary
Hillsboro will be abuzz with activity this weekend when residents celebrate the city’s 125th anniversary. Farmer’s Market, 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Schaeffler House — Sloppy joes will be served. Music will be provided by Three Docs & A Quack.
Step back into past at Schaeffler House
As Hillsboro celebrates its 125th anniversary, the William F. Schaeffler House will celebrate its 100th anniversary. The house, now a museum, re-opens Saturday with an antique car show 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., an 1870-1937 fashion show 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., and a fried-chicken picnic dinner 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
125 years and building: Lumberyard shares birthday
E.R. (Ezra) Burkholder was ahead of his time. An ambitious and progressive man, he came to Hillsboro in 1882 from Ontario, Canada.
Countdown is on for July 4th
With one weekend remaining before the 88th annual fireworks extravaganza, Peabody Fourth Celebration Society is winding down the building of display pieces. “We have about five more to build,” chairman Brian McDowell said. “We have been able to get most of them done and this next weekend should take care of it.”
Ceremony to mark monument relocation
The 101-year-old Lost Springs monument on the Santa Fe Trail will be relocated in a public ceremony July 3. More than 500 area families donated to construct the monument, which was dedicated July 4, 1908.

DEATHS

Otto Bentz
Otto Anton Bentz, 90, of Tampa died June 16 at Hillsboro Community Medical Center. Born Jan. 4, 1919, to Phillip R. and Elsie (Bruns) Bentz on his family’s farm north of Tampa, he was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church and confirmed into the church May 20, 1934.
Anna Enns
Anna Enns, 90, a former missionary to Africa, died Saturday at Salem Nursing Home, Hillsboro. Born July 14, 1918, in Chinook, Mont., to David J. and Elizabeth (Reddig) Enns, she was preceded in death by a brother, William; stepbrother, John F. Knaak; and two sisters, Bertha Schultz and Alice Enns.
Elfrieda Pagenkopf
Retired Tampa and Herington postal worker Elfrieda A. Pagenkopf, 88, died Monday at Herington Municipal Hospital. Services were to be at 11 a.m. today at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Herington. Burial was to follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery.
Robert Risenhoover
Robert Neal Risenhoover Jr., 66, former owner of MarBowl Lanes, Marion, and PlaBowl Lanes, Herington, died Friday at Legacy Park, Peabody. Born May 22, 1943, in Galesburg, Ill., to Dorothy and Robert Risenhoover Sr., he was raised at Wichita Children’s Home.
Duane Schierling
Livestock nutritionist Duane Schierling, 55, died Thursday in Hillsboro. Born Feb. 6, 1954, in Hutchinson, he married Jill Westbrook on Feb. 23, 1980, in Quinter.
Lorraine Walker
Homemaker and farm wife Lorraine E. Walker, 87, died Friday at Parkside Home, Hillsboro. She also worked as a school cook and nurse and at a manufacturing plant in Newton.

DOCKET

FARM

Rain slows harvest, but tests are good
Weekend rains totaling three-quarters of an inch to more than two inches have slowed this year’s wheat harvest, which began last week in all parts of the county. Marion and areas south of town had an additional half-inch overnight Sunday.
Atrazine questions remain
Professor Philip Barnes’s presentation Thursday about water quality in Marion Reservoir left some attendees with different impressions. About 98 pounds of atrazine washed into the reservoir in 2008, Barnes said.
'Harvesting is the best part'
Sitting with Ronnie Carlson inside the air-conditioned cab of his combine is almost as pleasant as having a conversation with him in his living room. Outside noise is minimal.
Gardens reach new heights
Is it possible to grow tomatoes, peppers, chard, basil, and green beans in a narrow, graveled alley behind a Main Street shop? Pam Lamborn of Jack Rabbit Hollow, Peabody, thought it couldn’t be done.

GOVERNMENT

Sheriff expects 11% increase in 2010 budget
Marion County Commission approved zoning districts Monday for Marion County Park and Lake and Eastshore development. The districts will allow the county to regulate zoning issues for those areas separately from other unincorporated communities in the county.
Residents have concerns about jail committee
Residents have been voicing concerns about the county’s jail committee, county commissioners said Monday. Among the concerns were questions about whether the committee would hear from the public before it makes a recommendation and why 20 percent of the committee members were involved in car sales.

OPINION

Let the sun shine
Flint Hills Center for Public Policy, a Wichita-based think-tank, is making an impassioned plea this week that Kansas laws protecting citizens from government secrecy need substantial revision and stricter enforcement. We could not agree more. From continued secret sessions by elected officials here (three in last week’s County Commission meeting alone) to shocking lack of supervision over spending at Kansas State University, we see signs every day that greater sunshine is needed on official business in our state.
Moving forward?
It has occurred to us that with continued technological breakthroughs, the human voice may become extinct. I remember seeing an old “Star Trek” episode on TV where a group of aliens. Instead of talking, they read each other’s minds. They had no voices.
Gratitude
Thank you, subscribers and businesses, for your continued support of this business and others in town. Thank you for placing your business advertisements with us, giving us social news about your family’s events, and calling us with news tips.
LETTERS:
Questions for jail committee
COLUMNS:
Random Thoughts

PEOPLE

Teen's mission trip is life-changing
Jordan Harper, 16, of Marion knew she wanted to be a nurse. After 10 days of visiting inner-city agencies that care for neglected, abused, and abandoned children, the Marion High School junior now knows she wants to be a traveling nurse and care for children with these types of needs.
This loser's a winner
Ken Wealand of Cedar Point, a technician at Prairieland Partners in Marion, is winner of the annual Biggest Loser competition sponsored by the company. The 5-foot-10 Wealand lost 50 pounds in five months, reducing his weight 23.14 percent, and winning $420.
BIRTHS:
Makenzie Kay Reiswig, Jessica Cora Methvin
CORRESPONDENTS:
Burdick, Living Center, Senior Center, Tampa
MEMORIES:
10, 25, 35, 50, 60, 100 years ago

SPORTS

Record doesn't tell story
The losing record of Marion’s Babe Ruth team for 16- to 18-year-olds may be a bit deceptive, coach Phil Unruh said. Half of the team’s eight losses came in one-run games, where one lucky break could change the outcome.
Babe Ruth tourneys coming to Marion
Marion will host two Babe Ruth district four tournaments in coming weeks. Games will be played at the sports complex. Senior players will compete starting July 16 while 13-year-olds will begin July 23.
Opinions on dividing 1A are split
Beginning fall 2010, Centre and Goessel will have less competition for state championships in basketball, volleyball, and scholars’ bowl. But not everybody is happy about it.
Swim team results

Marion County RECORD

In what seems like a blink of an eye, a family’s life went from normal to scary uncertainty. More than six weeks ago, Thane Hurst was an average 14-year-old Hillsboro High School freshman with a passion for golf.

“How did you spend your summer vacation?” Three young people from Colorado and New Mexico, will have an interesting answer when they tell of meeting strangers and seeing the U.S. from the seat of a bicycle.

Relay for Life of Marion County raised more than $49,500 this weekend. Twenty-two teams participated. More than 70 survivors and caregivers took the opening lap of the relay Friday night in USD 408 Sports Center after unpredictable weather prompted a move indoors.

Hillsboro will be abuzz with activity this weekend when residents celebrate the city’s 125th anniversary. Farmer’s Market, 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Schaeffler House — Sloppy joes will be served. Music will be provided by Three Docs & A Quack.

E.R. (Ezra) Burkholder was ahead of his time. An ambitious and progressive man, he came to Hillsboro in 1882 from Ontario, Canada.

The 101-year-old Lost Springs monument on the Santa Fe Trail will be relocated in a public ceremony July 3. More than 500 area families donated to construct the monument, which was dedicated July 4, 1908.

Otto Anton Bentz, 90, of Tampa died June 16 at Hillsboro Community Medical Center. Born Jan. 4, 1919, to Phillip R. and Elsie (Bruns) Bentz on his family’s farm north of Tampa, he was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church and confirmed into the church May 20, 1934.

Anna Enns, 90, a former missionary to Africa, died Saturday at Salem Nursing Home, Hillsboro. Born July 14, 1918, in Chinook, Mont., to David J. and Elizabeth (Reddig) Enns, she was preceded in death by a brother, William; stepbrother, John F. Knaak; and two sisters, Bertha Schultz and Alice Enns.

Retired Tampa and Herington postal worker Elfrieda A. Pagenkopf, 88, died Monday at Herington Municipal Hospital. Services were to be at 11 a.m. today at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Herington. Burial was to follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery.

Robert Neal Risenhoover Jr., 66, former owner of MarBowl Lanes, Marion, and PlaBowl Lanes, Herington, died Friday at Legacy Park, Peabody. Born May 22, 1943, in Galesburg, Ill., to Dorothy and Robert Risenhoover Sr., he was raised at Wichita Children’s Home.

Livestock nutritionist Duane Schierling, 55, died Thursday in Hillsboro. Born Feb. 6, 1954, in Hutchinson, he married Jill Westbrook on Feb. 23, 1980, in Quinter.

Homemaker and farm wife Lorraine E. Walker, 87, died Friday at Parkside Home, Hillsboro. She also worked as a school cook and nurse and at a manufacturing plant in Newton.

Weekend rains totaling three-quarters of an inch to more than two inches have slowed this year’s wheat harvest, which began last week in all parts of the county. Marion and areas south of town had an additional half-inch overnight Sunday.

Professor Philip Barnes’s presentation Thursday about water quality in Marion Reservoir left some attendees with different impressions. About 98 pounds of atrazine washed into the reservoir in 2008, Barnes said.

Sitting with Ronnie Carlson inside the air-conditioned cab of his combine is almost as pleasant as having a conversation with him in his living room. Outside noise is minimal.

Is it possible to grow tomatoes, peppers, chard, basil, and green beans in a narrow, graveled alley behind a Main Street shop? Pam Lamborn of Jack Rabbit Hollow, Peabody, thought it couldn’t be done.

Marion County Commission approved zoning districts Monday for Marion County Park and Lake and Eastshore development. The districts will allow the county to regulate zoning issues for those areas separately from other unincorporated communities in the county.

It has occurred to us that with continued technological breakthroughs, the human voice may become extinct. I remember seeing an old “Star Trek” episode on TV where a group of aliens. Instead of talking, they read each other’s minds. They had no voices.

Thank you, subscribers and businesses, for your continued support of this business and others in town. Thank you for placing your business advertisements with us, giving us social news about your family’s events, and calling us with news tips.

LETTERS:

COLUMNS:

Jordan Harper, 16, of Marion knew she wanted to be a nurse. After 10 days of visiting inner-city agencies that care for neglected, abused, and abandoned children, the Marion High School junior now knows she wants to be a traveling nurse and care for children with these types of needs.

Ken Wealand of Cedar Point, a technician at Prairieland Partners in Marion, is winner of the annual Biggest Loser competition sponsored by the company. The 5-foot-10 Wealand lost 50 pounds in five months, reducing his weight 23.14 percent, and winning $420.

BIRTHS:

CORRESPONDENTS:

MEMORIES:

The losing record of Marion’s Babe Ruth team for 16- to 18-year-olds may be a bit deceptive, coach Phil Unruh said. Half of the team’s eight losses came in one-run games, where one lucky break could change the outcome.

Marion will host two Babe Ruth district four tournaments in coming weeks. Games will be played at the sports complex. Senior players will compete starting July 16 while 13-year-olds will begin July 23.

Beginning fall 2010, Centre and Goessel will have less competition for state championships in basketball, volleyball, and scholars’ bowl. But not everybody is happy about it.