Marion County RECORD

City says water is safe to drink

Although the city’s water treatment plant can prevent the contamination of zebra mussels in the city’s drinking water, concerns continue about the mussels clogging equipment and pipes. The mussels become attached to objects, preventing the flow of water.

Mother gets prison sentence in son's death

Former Peabody resident Katheryn Nycole Dale, 21, the mother of 19-month-old Vincent Hill, who died of suffocation and blunt force trauma March 27, was sentenced Sept. 30 to the maximum amount of prison time allowed by Kansas law for her part in her son’s death — a total of 41 months. Dale’s live-in boyfriend, Chad Carr, 26, was arrested within hours of the boy’s death. Dale, arrested on March 30, was charged with one count of felony child abuse, one count of aggravated battery, and two counts of aggravated child endangerment. After a preliminary hearing in July, Carr was charged with first-degree murder in the case.

Revitalization program may be reduced to five years

The duration of the Marion County neighborhood revitalization program may be reduced from 10 to five years, commissioners tentatively decided Monday. Property owners completing new applications for approved revitalization projects will be eligible for tax rebates of 90 percent the first year. Rebates will be reduced 10 percent until the fifth and final year, when the rebate will be 50 percent.

Neighbors helping neighbors

While farmer Bob Konarik of rural Marion was in Newton receiving the first about 30 daily chemotherapy treatments for melanoma Monday, several of his neighbors and fellow farmers were planting 500 acres of wheat for him in northern Marion County. “Why? That’s what neighbors do,” Jim Bernhardt said. “He was in trouble. He needed help. We’re here to help.”

Chili cook-off attracts variety of strategies

The fourth-annual Marion County Park and Lake chili cook-off attracted 17 entries, and each contestant had a different strategy. Chili Wranglers Amanda Bentley and MaLisa DeLozier of Wichita were champions in 2009, their first year competing. What was their secret?

Calming canine

Often the most difficult part of an elementary school guidance counselors’ job is calming down a student from an intense emotion, whether it be anger or sadness, to get to the root of the trauma and find a solution. “I have students write,” MES counselor Kris Burkholder said. “I have some listen to calming music or do a physical activity to calm down before we discuss what happened. Ever since I’ve had Halo, she’s calmed them down.”

High-flying fun for free-flighters

Despite strong winds Saturday, members of the Heart of America Free Flight Association were pleased to return to Marion Municipal Airport for their annual competition. “We’re in a sport where you either take advantage of or are a victim of Mother Nature,” Randy Reynolds of Colorado Springs, Colo., said.

Fernetta Bitner

Fernetta Mae Bitner, 84, formerly of Wichita, died Sept. 27 in Marion. Born Feb. 24, 1926, near Canada, to Albert and Mable (Christensen) Matz, she was a homemaker and operated a day care.

Laura Foth

Laura Elma Foth, 94, of Newton, died Oct. 2 at Kansas Christian Home, Newton. Born Jan. 24, 1916, in Goessel, the oldest of six children to John and Bertha (Becker) Peters, she was raised on a farm near Peabody and attended high school in Walton.

Rose Ann Hatcher

Rose Ann Hatcher, 69, died Oct. 1 at Legacy Park, Peabody. Born June 7, 1941, in Marion County, to Chester and Dorothy (Graham) Hatcher, she lived her entire adult life in Hillsboro.

Irma Heiser

Irma L. Heiser, 92, of Hillsboro, died Sept. 28 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Joseph Campus, Wichita. Born Aug. 23, 1918, in Marion, to John M. and Hattie (Propp) Vogel, she was a homemaker. Later she was a dietary aide at Salem Home, Hillsboro.

Eldena Helmer

Eldena M. Helmer, 91, of Marion, died Oct. 3 at St. Luke Living Center, Marion. She was born Oct. 27, 1918, near Marion, the only child of William and Anna (Black) Schlotthauer.

Afton Hett

Afton Hett was stillborn Sept. 27 at Newton Medical Center. Survivors include her parents, Derek and Jolene (Esau) Hett and brother, Sabian of McPherson; grandparents, Dennis and Jeanne Hett, Shirley Esau, and Verlyn Esau of McPherson; great-grandparents, Jim and Eulalia Flaming of Hillsboro, Don and Ruby Esau of Henderson, Neb., and Della Farrell and Dolores Hett of Canton.

Nettie Hiebert

Nettie Jane Hiebert, 83, of Hillsboro, died Oct. 2 in Hillsboro. Born July 14, 1928, at Pawnee Rock, to David and Elizabeth (Unruh) Jantz, she was a housekeeper.

Sylvester Vinduska

Preceded by parents W.F. and Christina (Lentz) Vinduska; a brother, George Vinduska; andVida M. (Soyez) Vinduska.

Accidents

Civil division

County jail

Criminal division

Deeds recorded

Domestic division

Marion police

Small claims

Traffic division

Lake provides dream home for Salvation Army workers

The house where Richard and Judy Forney plan to retire barely resembles the house they bought nine years ago as a vacation home. On Monday, 74 Lakeshore Drive had its wood siding removed on the front of the house and replaced with a shiny forest green vinyl. Bob Gillett and Butch Suffield worked on the siding after finishing the outside work on an addition at the rear of the house they started three weeks prior.

Solar power device catches some rays

Herb Bartel of rural Hillsboro had a solar power system installed this summer at his home northeast of Hillsboro and quickly realized how effective it was. Bartel said in 10 days it produced as much electricity as he used in a month. His solar panel is a 22-foot-by-10-foot freestanding structure and has a clear view of the southern sky.

A failing grade for all of us

School board president Chris Sprowls is right to be embarrassed and appalled by Marion High School’s failure to meet the state’s relatively low average score on the ACT college entrance exam. He’s wrong to suggest, however, that the schools aren’t doing their job. Successful education requires more than dedicated teachers, administrators, and board members. It also requires concerned and involved parents and an entire community that values education more than it does entertainment.

Bragging rights

If you haven’t been by the Historic Elgin Hotel and Bed and Breakfast lately, you should. The railing has been installed on the upper level and it looks incredible. How fortunate Marion is to have the Cloutiers as owners of this historic building and taking such care in maintaining and preserving it.

Brownback: Education rightfully biggest chunk of state budget

Kansas’ school funding system has been litigated almost constantly since the current system was installed in 1994, Sen. Sam Brownback, Republican nominee for governor, said at a campaign stop Friday in Marion. Education funding — for school districts and higher education — represents about two-thirds of the state’s general fund, he said during his stop at Country Lakes Café.

Hope in the Heartland

As far as many children in America are concerned, Mother Goose is more relevant than Father God. It happens when the Bible’s historical accounts are taught as “cute little stories,” complete with comic strip characters. It happens when our children are taught Bible history that has been revised from fact to fable.

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Highway crash sends 3 to hospital

Two cars collided Friday afternoon at the intersection of U.S. 56/77/K-150 near Marion, sending three passengers to St. Luke Hospital in Marion but all escaped critical injuries. According to Marion County Sheriff Deputy Mike Ottensmeier, Dale C. Wealand, 69, Elmdale, was eastbound on U.S. 56 and had stopped at the intersection before crossing U.S. 77 to K-150. He did not see a southbound 2002 Honda passenger car, driven by Gretchen Strathe, 19, Wichita, and the two vehicles collided.

Women injured in mishap

Two Marion women escaped serious injury Friday morning when one of the women was grazed by a car as they crossed Main Street. Eva J. Cooper, 82, 315 N. Second St. and Lila Annette Hoffman, 88, 203 N. Second St., both of Marion, were walking in a crosswalk at Second and Main streets at 8:05 a.m. Friday, when Julie A. Scheideman, 45, 314 S. First St., Marion, was eastbound on Main Street in a 1995 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The car drove through the crosswalk, grazing Cooper, causing her to fall backward and into Hoffman who also fell.

Authorities say Tampa trailer fire suspicious

Fire departments from Durham, Ramona, Tampa, and Lincolnville responded to a fire at a trailer on West Third Street shortly after noon Sept. 25 in Tampa. Marion County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the call. Sheriff Robert Craft said the trailer was burned to the frame.

Auditorium renovation continues

The city auditorium renovation project is ahead of schedule. The first phase of constructing a wooden floor over the concrete floor is nearly completed, Marion Advancement Campaign representative Todd Heitschmidt said. Marion City Council was shown a carpet sample Monday that will be installed in the auditorium on the wooden sub-floor. The sub-floor was installed to level the main floor, making it conducive for tables and chairs. Theater seats were removed in August and are in the process of being sold.

Hospital to buy new therapy pool, replace sterilizer

Marion County Hospital District No. 1 Board of Directors approved the purchase of a therapy pool and a sterilizer Monday at a special meeting. The therapy pool will be a new addition to the physical therapy department at St. Luke Hospital, Marion, after construction is completed in a year.

Class of 1955 celebrates 55th anniversary of graduation

Marion High School class of 1955 met Old Settlers’ Day weekend to celebrate its 55th reunion. Class members met Sept. 24 at Marion Pizza Hut, where they received assignments. They met for coffee and rolls Sept. 25 at the Historic Elgin Hotel and Bed and Breakfast, Marion. They rode in the parade and were introduced by Laurence Griggs during class introductions at Central Park.

Country church closing its doors

Sunday will be a sad day for the remaining parishioners who have faithfully attended Summit United Methodist Church of rural Florence all of their lives. The final worship service will be conducted at 10 a.m. by the Rev. David Ragland of Peabody. Located in Summit Township, the Summit church began as a United Brethren Church. It subsequently became part of the United Brethren Evangelical Church and then the United Methodist Church.

Mother-son team places in state fair cook-off

Beth Riffel and her 12-year-old son Kyle, of Tampa were among eight parent/child teams that competed Sept. 18 in the Kansas Beef Council’s Kids in the Kitchen Beef Cook-off at the Kansas State Fair. Kyle won the $150 third-place prize for his Sizzlin’ Steak Breakfast Wraps. The recipe calls for eggs scrambled with ranch dressing mix, spooned onto whole-wheat pita rounds, and topped with bite-size pieces of marinated and grilled sirloin steak.

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County envirofest a hit with students, experts

Fourth grade students from Hillsboro and Marion elementary schools gathered Thursday in Central Park, Marion, to learn about protecting the environment, specifically focusing on water quality. It was the first Marion County Envirofest. Organizer Peggy Blackman said it would not be the last; she is working to expand the event to include home school students and the other elementary schools in Marion County.

Warriors lose first game of season

Sedgwick defeated Marion High School, 35-16, Friday in Marion. Coach Grant Thierolf encouraged his players after the loss. He said he never questioned the team’s effort at any point in the game.

MHS finishes second at Halstead

The Marion High School boys cross-country team finished second Thursday in Halstead. Jordan Hett finished fourth with a time of 17 minutes, 53 seconds. Patrick McCarty was next to cross the finish line with a 15th-place finish, running a time of 19:04. Michael Kirkpatrick finished 21st with a time of 19:21 and Jacob Cope finished 25th at 19:34.

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