Marion County RECORD

HEADLINES

Auditorium makeover
If there ever was a time to renovate the city auditorium, it’s now. That was the theme of a meeting Nov. 19, when previous donors of Marion Advancement Campaign (MAC) and the general public heard comments about the possibility of a Marion City Auditorium renovation project.
Lasting impressions
What are the first impressions of visitors to our communities? Do they notice buildings in disrepair and tall grass? What about signs? Can they find their way through our cities? This past week, Ron Wilson, director of Huck Boyd Institute, Kansas State University, Manhattan, held community meetings to reveal information about the impressions communities make to outsiders.
Commission approves purchase of tractor mower
Marion County Commission voted unanimously Monday to purchase a tractor and mower deck, but not without hitting some snags along the way. Road and bridge superintendent John Summerville told commissioners the tractor the county has now, spends nearly as much time being repaired as being used.
County purchases new semi to haul refuse
Marion County Commission approved a second large purchase at Monday’s meeting. The commissioners voted unanimously to purchase a 2009 International semi. The semi will be used to haul solid waste from the transfer station to a landfill.
'The last stand': Vintage building still in use
The Centre Elementary School building in Lost Springs is the only original small-town school building in northern Marion County still used for educational purposes after 80 years. After consolidation in the late 1950s and 1960s, several of the small-town school buildings deteriorated and eventually were torn down. A few were transformed into businesses.
Commission breaks election ties of township offices
Marion County Commission drew names out of a hat Monday to break ties in 11 races for township offices in the county. The 11 ties were between candidates with a single write-in vote.
Hospital CFO hired but individual not divulged
Marion County Hospital District #1 Board of Directors has offered the position of chief financial officer to a candidate. The decision was made by the board at the Nov. 18 board meeting following an executive session.
Community synergy brings band to Ramona area
The Wiyos of Brooklyn, N.Y., performed Nov. 16 at Hope Community Center in a private concert with nearly 140 in attendance. Jessica Gilbert, one of the California Sisters of Ramona, organized the event.

DEATHS

Gabriel Demmitt
Gabriel “Gabe” Demmitt, 26, Goessel, died Nov. 23, 2008, as a result of a pickup/train accident in rural Cedar Point. Born Feb. 26, 1982, in Newton, he was the son of Duane G. and Carol Sue (Holtsclaw) Demmitt. He worked at AGCO Corp. of Hesston.
Norma Jean Goering
Norma Jean Goering Norma Jean Goering, 79, Marion, died Nov. 22, 2008.
Norma Lee Smith
Norma Lee Smith, 86, of Marion, died Nov. 22, 2008. Born Dec. 15, 1921, in Hartford, Ark., she was the daughter of Calvin and Neva (Woods) Spence. She retired after 20 years of service as a dietary aide at Marion Manor.
James Reed
James Reed James M. “Jim” Reed, 49, originally of Florence, died Nov. 23, 2008. Funeral services will be announced at a later date.
Donald C. Viets
On the first day of September, 1924, Donald Clinton Viets was born to Leslie and Alice (Buckley) Viets at their farm home near Aurora, Kansas. His boyhood days were filled with assisting his father with farm chores, schooling, and long walks in the country with his dog, Shep. After graduating from Clyde High School, he enrolled at Friends University, Wichita, where he met a student named Ruth. Shortly, Uncle Sam invited him to free training in the United States Army Air Corps. Don served as a skilled navigator on a B-29. During these years, God’s call to become a minister was realized. He married Ruth Paulin, received an honorable discharge from the Air Corps when World War II ended, and he and his bride became a team serving God with the rest of their lives.

DOCKET

Two die in car-train crash
Two Goessel men died Sunday afternoon when the vehicle in which they were riding was struck by a train. According to Chase County Sheriff Richard Dorneker, Gabriel Demmitt, 26, was driving a 1996 Chevrolet Suburban northbound from a field entrance in Chase County at 3:53 p.m. Sunday when he attempted to cross a railroad crossing in front of an oncoming train. Michael Mathews, 30, was a passenger in the passenger vehicle.
Accidents
Civil division
Criminal division
Deeds recorded
Domestic division
Marriage licenses
Jail bookings
Traffic division
Peabody Municipal Court

OPINION

Counting our blessings
Recently there was a news story about a store in Maine with a sign instructing people to place bets on, not if but when, President Elect Barack Obama would be assassinated. The town was outraged, to say the least, and the sign came down. The sign in the Oak Hill General Store asked customers to place a one dollar bet on the date of Obama’s assassination and it read, “Let’s hope someone wins,” the Portland Press Herald reported. It was called the “Osama Obama Shotgun Pool.”
COLUMNS:
Random Thoughts, State of the City

PEOPLE

A family tradition: Cousins gather for German fare
The younger cousins of the Martin Jost family have a unique celebration every year, the day after Thanksgiving. They get together at the farm of Clinton and Diana Jost northeast of Burdick, where the women prepare and all eat traditional Mennonite food.
CORRESPONDENTS:
Burdick, Senior Center, Tampa
MEMORIES:
10, 25, 35, 50, 60, 100 years ago

SCHOOLS

MHS JV scholars fourth at McPherson
The Marion High School JV scholars’ bowl team competed in two meets this past week. At the Remington Invitational, the team of sophomores Landon Leiker and Patrick Hodson, and freshmen Caroline Collett, Drew Knolla, and Beth Nesser compiled a 5-1 record in pool play, but lost to Andover Central in the single-elimination semifinals.
Dancing with the Warriors
Usually when the first Friday in December rolls around in Marion, the high school Warriors are getting ready to play their first basketball game of the season. This year, the boys’ and girls’ teams will be ready to show-off their dance moves at the Marion High School Winter Jam.

SPORTS

New MHS coach ready to get started
Jeff McMillin grew up in Conway Springs. He played every sport imaginable in his backyard, and continued through the days leading up to Conway Springs High School.
MMS boys sweep Ellinwood
It was a perfect night Thursday when Marion Middle School boys’ basketball team played host to Ellinwood. The A- and B-teams moved their record to 3-0 with victories, and the C-team won the first game it had played this season.
CENTRE:
Junior High Boys Basketball, Junior High Girls Basketball
COLUMN:
From the Sidelines

Marion County RECORD

If there ever was a time to renovate the city auditorium, it’s now. That was the theme of a meeting Nov. 19, when previous donors of Marion Advancement Campaign (MAC) and the general public heard comments about the possibility of a Marion City Auditorium renovation project.

Marion County Commission voted unanimously Monday to purchase a tractor and mower deck, but not without hitting some snags along the way. Road and bridge superintendent John Summerville told commissioners the tractor the county has now, spends nearly as much time being repaired as being used.

Marion County Commission approved a second large purchase at Monday’s meeting. The commissioners voted unanimously to purchase a 2009 International semi. The semi will be used to haul solid waste from the transfer station to a landfill.

Marion County Commission drew names out of a hat Monday to break ties in 11 races for township offices in the county. The 11 ties were between candidates with a single write-in vote.

Marion County Hospital District #1 Board of Directors has offered the position of chief financial officer to a candidate. The decision was made by the board at the Nov. 18 board meeting following an executive session.

The Wiyos of Brooklyn, N.Y., performed Nov. 16 at Hope Community Center in a private concert with nearly 140 in attendance. Jessica Gilbert, one of the California Sisters of Ramona, organized the event.

Gabriel “Gabe” Demmitt, 26, Goessel, died Nov. 23, 2008, as a result of a pickup/train accident in rural Cedar Point. Born Feb. 26, 1982, in Newton, he was the son of Duane G. and Carol Sue (Holtsclaw) Demmitt. He worked at AGCO Corp. of Hesston.

Norma Jean Goering Norma Jean Goering, 79, Marion, died Nov. 22, 2008.

Norma Lee Smith, 86, of Marion, died Nov. 22, 2008. Born Dec. 15, 1921, in Hartford, Ark., she was the daughter of Calvin and Neva (Woods) Spence. She retired after 20 years of service as a dietary aide at Marion Manor.

James Reed James M. “Jim” Reed, 49, originally of Florence, died Nov. 23, 2008. Funeral services will be announced at a later date.

COLUMNS:

The younger cousins of the Martin Jost family have a unique celebration every year, the day after Thanksgiving. They get together at the farm of Clinton and Diana Jost northeast of Burdick, where the women prepare and all eat traditional Mennonite food.

CORRESPONDENTS:

MEMORIES:

Usually when the first Friday in December rolls around in Marion, the high school Warriors are getting ready to play their first basketball game of the season. This year, the boys’ and girls’ teams will be ready to show-off their dance moves at the Marion High School Winter Jam.

Jeff McMillin grew up in Conway Springs. He played every sport imaginable in his backyard, and continued through the days leading up to Conway Springs High School.

It was a perfect night Thursday when Marion Middle School boys’ basketball team played host to Ellinwood. The A- and B-teams moved their record to 3-0 with victories, and the C-team won the first game it had played this season.

CENTRE:

COLUMN: