BREAKING NEWS
UPDATED AFTER PRINT DEADLINE
Marion County Jail, which housed as many as 18 inmates last week, can legally hold no more than four, Marion County Commission was told Thursday. After an inspection Monday, a state fire marshal ordered that, until jail population is reduced to four, the county must designate an employee with no duties other than to watch for fires 24 hours a day. The county already employs two full-time and several part-time jailers. Employees performing the fire watch, which already has begun, are in addition to those working as jailers.
Challenger Roger K. Fleming won in a landslide over incumbent Marion County Commissioner Bob Hein in the Republican primary Tuesday, 879 to 249. Meanwhile, state Rep. J. Robert Brookens successfully defended his position against challenger Cheryl Green. “I appreciate all the voters who got out and showed who they want to represent them,” Fleming said after results were posted.
Marion County was awaiting a decision Tuesday whether its overcrowded jail violates fire code and must stop accepting inmates. The jail was two inmates over capacity when an inspector from the Kansas fire marshal’s office examined it Monday.
Dramatically more spent on roads and bridges, dramatically less on sheriff and jail By ERIC MEYER
and ADAM STEWART Staff writers Marion County is spending more taxpayer money per resident this year than any county of similar population in the state, according to a new research report.
Marion City Council completed its proposed 2011 city budget Friday — a budget that would increase city spending by 6.3 percent over estimated spending in 2010 and would increase property taxes by 3.9 percent. Among the larger items of additional General Fund spending that the budget, printed on Page 11, would allow would be:
Fields of soybeans and corn look as vibrant as any in recent memory, but looks aren’t everything. “The corn is deceiving this year,” farmer Don Kraus of rural Marion said last week. “Don’t get me wrong; it’s a good crop. But it isn’t as good as it looks from the road.”
Retired art teacher Jan Davis’ latest canvas is a building on East Main Street. She is converting it into Gallery 101 of the Flint Hills. As of last week, Davis and a crew of workers, including most of her family, had painted the front of the building, put up carpeted walls to hang paintings and other wall art, and installed track lighting.
A recent sewer inspection in Lincolnville revealed a damaged section of the main sewer pipe. The damaged portion is just east of the railroad tracks. According to city councilman Joe Vinduska, who oversees the sewer system, the cost of replacing the pipe will be approximately $14,000. The expenditure was approved at the July meeting.
Marion County commissioners said they were impressed with what Marion County Special Education Cooperative has done with the former Golden Living Center in Marion after touring the building Monday. At a previous meeting, cooperative chairwoman Deb Geis informed commissioners that the east wing of the building is available to house the health department.
Donors who gave to St. Luke Hospital met a challenge from the Lorraine Hadsell Charitable Trust to raise $75,000 for the hospital’s upcoming renovation. After donating $25,000, the trust announced it would match donations dollar-for-dollar through July 31, up to $75,000. During that time, the hospital raised $76,730 to match the trust’s donation.
Marion firefighters were called to a fire Friday at the home of Eric Kline and Gretchen Reid, 709 S. Roosevelt St. The fire was the second house fire the family has suffered in less than three years.
A rear-end crash on U.S. 56 Tuesday near Hillsboro was violent enough that both lanes of the highway were blocked and both victims were transported to the hospital. Hillsboro city worker Chris Brewer, 22, of 129 W. Santa Fe St., Marion, stopped a Dodge 1500 truck eastbound on U.S. 56 to turn left onto Indigo Road. Taylor England, 17, of 125 Arrowhead Road, Inman, rammed into the back of the truck with enough force to spin her Kia Optima into the westbound lane.
Prosecutors will present evidence against Terry Lee Bowen, Lora J. Gay, and Kenneth J. Frederick II, all of Peabody, during preliminary hearings 10 a.m. Sept. 1. The defendants are accused of gang rape of a child June 23 or 24. During preliminary hearings, prosecutors must show probable cause for trying the defendants for the crime in question, Marion County Attorney Susan Robson said Monday. Preliminary hearings are only for felony charges, and defendants can waive the hearing.
A former Hillsboro resident whose parents live in Marion was found dead Monday on the family’s property in rural Salina. According to Saline County Sheriff’s Captain Brian Shea, Kandi (Thouvenell) Sprague, 28, was reported missing Thursday by her family. Her body was found Monday morning on East Shipton Road, Salina, near the couple’s home.
The mother of 19-month-old Vincent Hill, who died March 27, pleaded no contest to one count of abuse of a child and one count of aggravated child endangerment. Katheryn Nycole Dale, 20, entered her plea at what was cheduled to be a preliminary hearing at the Harvey County Courthouse in Newton.
Don Hess, 69, of Greeley, Colo., died July 24 of a massive heart attack. Born May 2, 1941, in Peabody, he married Judy Janzen on March 3, 1962, in Wichita. They moved to Greeley in 1967.
Hillsboro resident Jay N. Kimberly, 64, district manager for Williams Natural Gas Co. of Hesston, died July 28 at Olathe Medical Center, Olathe. Born Feb. 7, 1946, in Union, Miss., to Ernest and Bonnie (Gibson) Kimberly, he married Brenda Staats on Sept. 2, 1968, in Pratt.
Robert Marshall, 63, who was a band instructor in Peabody-Burns schools for 22 years, died July 28 at his home in Peabody. Marshall, director of educational music for Senseney Music of Wichita, also owned a family business, Marshall Auction Service of Peabody, and was partner and broker with Marshall-Avery Realtors of Peabody.
Peabody cattle buyer LeRoy Gene Mosiman, 63, died July 26 in Peabody. Born Oct. 6, 1946, in Newton to Freddie and Ruth (Winkle) Mosiman, who preceded him in death, he was divorced from Verna (Smith) Mosiman.
Retired Ramona farmer, restaurateur, and manufacturing worker Harold H. Ohm, 85, died July 27 at Medicalodges of Herington. Born Feb. 27, 1925, near Delevan to Gustav F. and Hattie Emma (Rost) Ohm, he was raised in the Latimer area and married Betty L. Davis on April 3, 1952, at First Christian Church, Herington.
Selected answers from visitors to our booth of the Marion County Fair last week: “Some kind of industry that would create or bring a minimum of 300 jobs to this area.” — Mike Gardner
There weren’t a lot of young contestants in the antique tractor pull Friday at the Marion County Fair and there were few female competitors. That situation definitely puts 19-year-old future cosmetology student Olivia Regier in a stark minority.
Nearly two months in Marion County — visiting, coaching, filling in, and otherwise getting into professional mischief — have convinced me of several things. With few exceptions, people here are unusually friendly, caring, and responsible — justifiably yet humbly proud. Random acts of kindness — from business people, government workers, and just plain neighbors — are a way of life. Community services from senior centers to public health flourish.
With the support of employees and owners, I was able to take off a few days to rejuvenate and recharge. On the first day of my vacation, July 22, I traveled to Fort Scott to visit my oldest sister who celebrated her birthday that day. On my way, I followed a group of three motorcycles. Now I have spent enough time on the back of these marvelous machines to know respect on the road works both ways. Evidently these riders didn’t share the same philosophy. Not only did they toe the centerline, at times crossing it when meeting oncoming traffic, they caused vehicles to take to the shoulders. The bikers decided to pass a vehicle, and instead of each one passing as oncoming traffic permitted, they passed as a pack, causing the car they were passing and an oncoming car to swerve to avoid an accident. As my better half and I traveled to Oklahoma City, it was amazing what we saw along highways.
We were saddened by the news of Peabody community leader Bob Marshall’s death. His wife, Susan, is the news editor for the Peabody Gazette-Bulletin and we have nearly daily contact with her to “talk shop.” Although we did not have as much contact with Bob as we did his wife, we felt we “knew” Bob through Susan and her columns.
If you have ever told a story to illustrate a point, you spoke a parable. It’s a good thing to use stories to communicate a deeper truth. Stories that create a mental image help the listener stay interested. A mental picture is, after all, worth a thousand words. A parable invites the listener to stay on board until you arrive at the destination, or point, to which you are taking them.
LETTERS:
Superlative thank-yous,
Teacher's vacation
Donna Hanschu has lived through despair, but she uses her experiences to help others grieve. Hanschu, a recently returned Marion County native, started counseling people dealing with the loss of a loved oneseven before bereavement was a concept. She was part of one of the first head start programs in Vallejo, Calif., where she did loss counseling in the late 1960s. She later moved to Colorado where she continued her work.
Randy Crawford and Don Noller agree weightlifting is a good stress reliever, but other than that you couldn’t find two more differing views about working out. For Crawford, weightlifting is nearly an addiction.
Louis Holt of Marion and Dillon Ray Smith of Carthage, Mo., graduated from Air Force basic training Friday, but neither was the first member of their family to serve in the military. Three of Holt’s grandparents served in World War II. His paternal grandfather, Arnold Holt, was part of the Army Air Corps, which later became the Air Force. He was wounded in combat and received a Purple Heart, his mother, Ann Holt, said.
Jarod Lawver, Chad Lawver, and Chaz Rice are biking from the coast of Oregon to Virginia Beach. They began June 13; they plan on the trip ending in 76 days, by Aug. 28.
BIRTHS:
Aubrey WhitemanCORRESPONDENTS:
Burdick,
Senior Center,
TampaMEMORIES:
10,
25,
35,
50,
60,
100,
125 years ago