Marion County RECORD

Kjellin appointed city administrator

City economic development director and temporary assistant city administrator Doug Kjellin was appointed as the permanent city administrator Monday evening by Marion City Council. Kjellin was appointed as assistant city administrator at the Nov. 29 council meeting. Administrator David Mayfield revealed the day after the council meeting that he planned to retire at the end of the year.

Duckwall building has lookers

There are several people interested in occupying the Duckwall building in downtown Marion. Assistant city administrator Doug Kjellin told the city council Monday evening.

Demonstration uneventful

Area law enforcement officers were standing in front of Marion High School on the north side of Main Street by 7:30 a.m. Tuesday in preparation for a demonstration by Westboro Baptist members scheduled for 7:50. Officers from Marion, Hillsboro, Peabody, and Florence police departments, Marion County sheriff’s office, and Kansas Highway Patrol were prepared for a counter demonstration.

Protesters still coming to local churches

Picketers from Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka canceled their scheduled protest Sunday morning. According to Marion Police Chief Josh Whitwell, a church official contacted him at 9 p.m. Saturday to cancel Sunday’s protests. The group did not picket churches in Goddard as previously scheduled.

Wounded soldier wants Newell and others to stay strong

Sitting in his Hillsboro home Monday morning with his 2-year-old daughter, Riley, bouncing on his knee, Pete Richert looks like any other young family man. It has been nearly four years since a roadside bomb in Iraq changed Richert’s life forever. Injuries caused the then 23-year-old soldier to lose his right leg and left him with permanent nerve damage to his left leg.

Hillsboro officials meet with county commission about TIF

Although Marion County, the City of Hillsboro, and USD 410 will not receive additional property taxes from Midway Motors’ move to U.S. 56 because of a tax increment financing district, increased sales tax revenue will likely make up for most of that amount, Hillsboro City Administrator Larry Paine told county commissioners Monday. Similar relocations by car dealers elsewhere have increased sales — and sales tax revenue — by about 20 percent, Paine said.

Christmas gifts become holiday art

In a season of customers lining up around the block at department stores on black Friday and crowds of parents warring over the last “gotta have-it” toy, Jim and Judy Versch have kept Christmas special without having to apply for a loan every holiday season. Each year for the last 12 to 15 years — Jim said 15 and Judy said 12 — Jim has given Judy a piece of art inspired by her love of Christmas and her collection of Santa Claus figurines.

Lela Brown

Lela M. Brown, 97, of Herington, died Dec. 10 at Medicalodges in Herington. Born March 7, 1913, at Pretty Prairie, to Claude Sr. and Barbara (Schaudelow) Jones, she was a homemaker.

Marilyn Dudley

Marilyn Jane Dudley, 74, mother of Nikki Case of Marion, died Dec. 13. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Marion Presbyterian Church. A private burial will precede the service.

Walter Smith

Walter Marion “Butch” Smith, who wanted to be called Smitty, 71, passed away Nov. 5, 2010, at San Andrea, Calif. He was born April 21, 1939, in Marion, to Marion Nathan and Pauline (Hunt) Smith.

Accidents

Civil division

County jail

Criminal division

Deeds recorded

Domestic division

Hillsboro police

Marion police

Peabody municipal court

Peabody police

Traffic division

Cutting development funding not a cure-all

There is a changing of the guard going on right now at Marion City Hall. Longtime city administrator David Mayfield will retire at the end of the year. In Monday’s council meeting, Doug Kjellin was appointed to take Mayfield’s place.

Family continues to draw support

The story about the Wiens family and their dog, Lacey, struck a chord with our readers. In addition to a letter from Randy Vogel of Clearwater, readers remain interested in the dog and the circumstances and want to know how to help. One anonymous reader who signed a the letter, “A local community member who cares,” said he/she hopes others in the community are making efforts to do what they can to support the Wiens family.

Seeds of something fine

They didn’t come Sunday. They will likely come later. You know who they are, and they are not the most important thing happening in this community right now. My husband and I attended the town meeting Dec. 8 with our precocious toddler who insisted on choosing her outfit herself: a bright turquoise dress over pastel pink velour leggings and a bright red coat. Oh my.

Another Day in the Country

It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, going to California for Thanksgiving. “Come to Colorado,” our cousins had said. “Or just come to Lawrence,” other family invited. “You could come to McPherson,” our friends added and then my sister said, “I think I’d just like to stay home and make cashew loaf and creamed peas.” Not me! I counted the cost, found an affordable ticket, and decided to fly to San Francisco. My little grandson, who turned 3 in the spring, crowed to me on the phone, “Babop, we made you a bed!”

Hope in the Heartland

(Editor’s note: This is the third part of a four-part series, leading to Christmas.) By LARRY TIMM Pastor, Gracepoint church Three days later, as dusk signaled the end of another day of travel, Joseph turned and looked again at his wife. The donkey on which Mary sat plodded along, swaying her back and forth. Mary smiled at Joseph, her hand gently rubbing her large belly. Joseph knew that she was exhausted and uncomfortable. Yet there was a glow on her face, as though her soul was ablaze with the glory of the Messiah that lay in the sanctuary of her womb.

Frostbite Fun Run is Jan. 1

Kelly Linnens of Hillsboro looks forward to the Frostbite Four Mile Fun Run each New Year’s Day as a way to start his year on the right foot. “It’s just a good time to get out and start your resolution,” he said.

Commercial actor is another feat in former Marionite's impressive journey

Former Marion resident Amanda Steiner’s story is one of consistent transformation and accomplishment. She went from normal teen-ager to victim of a tragic automobile accident that left her paralyzed. Then, she demolished through her first obstacles to become a confident high school graduate.

Groups send soldiers care packages

With a surge in donations, American Legion Post 22 in Marion and Post 366 in Hillsboro and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post 6958 in Hillsboro were able to send 27 care packages since October to servicemen and women overseas. Major contributors included Holy Family Parish CYO, Ruth and Larry Lange, the American Legion Auxiliary of Peabody, Kelly Laramore and coworkers from Kansas City, and an anonymous donor, volunteers Gary and Karen Chaput said.

Hand-sewn banners a perfect fit for church

When Rose Vetter moved from Manhattan to Leawood, she found that a series of church banners she had sewn didn’t fit in her new church. So she loaned the banners to Marion Presbyterian Church, where her daughter, Debbie Buchholz, attends church. “That’s the most important thing to her, that they’re used and appreciated,” Buchholz said.

Thanksmas celebration not complete without memories of hometown

Former Marion High School valedictorian, class of 2006, Rachel Davidson could only come back to Marion to see her family once during the holiday season. She chose to celebrate Christmas on Thanksgiving, an event she dubbed “Thanksmas.” “We put up Christmas lights and I had to listen to Christmas music,” Davidson said.

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Teens are raising money for international trip

For Alicia and Caitlyn Maloney of rural Florence, participating in the People to People program is the opportunity of a lifetime. The Marion High School freshmen will travel to Europe this summer to learn about other countries and cultures.

School board approves insurance premium

The USD 408 Board of Education approved a property insurance quote from Case and Son Insurance Monday. The quote, covering property, liability, worker’s compensation, and automobile insurance as a total annual premium, was $99,513, which was up $121 from 2009. The board also approved moving the March 14 board meeting to March 7 because the original date coincides with spring break.

Centre board approves purchase of wireless network technology

Members of the board of education of Centre USD 397 ate lunch at the school Monday and visited classrooms before meeting at 4 p.m. for a goal-setting session. In regular business, the board approved the purchase of a Xirrus wireless network system for the entire school facility at a cost of $26,340.

Tori Smith wins MES Geography Bee

The site of an ancient lighthouse on the island of Pharos attracts visitors to Alexandria, a port city in which African country? By correctly answering “Egypt,” sixth-grader Tori Smith won the Marion Elementary School Geography Bee on Friday. Tyler Arocha was the runner-up.

MHS grad receives prestigious arts fellowship

Brett Billings, a 2008 Marion High School graduate, received the highly competitive Maggin Family Creative and Performing Arts Fellowship at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. Billings used his fellowship to produce the radio theater classic, “War of the Worlds,” in November at Lafayette’s Williams Center for the Performing Arts.

Warriors take 4th in home tourney

Marion High School boys basketball coach Jeff McMillin was perplexed after the Warriors’ 47-28 loss to Belle Plaine Saturday in the third-place game of the Marion Classic Tournament. “They play tough mentally and physically,” McMillin said of his team. “You win when you get good shots and have 6 turnovers.”

Even with rebounding advantage, Warriors lose

The Marion High School girls basketball team lost to Remington Saturday, 43-28, in the third-place game of the Marion Classic Tournament. The Warriors outrebounded the Broncos, led by Whitney Gordon who had 18 boards, 14 of which were defensive rebounds.

Marion grapplers finish 2nd at Hesston

The Marion High School wrestling team finished second out of 18 teams Saturday at the Hesston Invitational, 34 points behind Smoky Valley. Randy Regnier won all of his matches in the 125-pound class, starting with pins against Tommy Jenkins of Hesston and Davion Hill of Wichita West, and finishing with a 9-0 decision against Terrin Bradfield of Halstead in the championship match.

Junior wrestlers place at events

Two Marion junior wrestlers placed at the Emporia tournament Saturday. Hunter Helmer won the 8-year-old and younger light heavyweight class with two victories. Tyler Palic placed second in the 10 and younger 130-pound class.

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