BREAKING NEWS
UPDATED AFTER PRINT DEADLINE
The Hillsboro High School girls basketball team defeated Osage City, 40-32, Wednesday in Hutchinson in the first round of the 3A state tournament. The scoring for the Trojans was diverse and unselfish; six Hillsboro players got into the scoring column and no Trojan took more than 7 shots. Senior guard Allie Faul led the way with 10 points including two 3-pointers. The Trojans advantage in long distance shooting — 4-of-9 from beyond the 3-point arc compared to 0-of-8 for Osage City — was one of the differences in the game.
Marion County Commission voted Monday to put a question whether to implement a 0.5 percent sales tax on the ballot for April 5 elections. If approved, sales tax revenue would be used to pay bonds that would be issued to finance construction of a new jail, sheriff’s office, and 911 center.
Fuel prices have climbed about 27 percent in the past year, and residents are starting to feel the pinch. “Just in the last couple days people are starting to say things,” Marion and Hillsboro Ampride supervisor Laura Legg said Thursday.
In the most recent nationwide census, Marion County population decreased by 701 residents — from 13,361 residents in 2000 to 12,660 in 2010 — a 5.25 percent decrease. Marion County boasted a population of 16,000 residents in the 1960 census and has experienced declines each decade since.
A basement fire March 1 at the Mark Collett residence at 2863 K-150 grew into a structure fire that damaged much of the house. Marion Fire Chief Mike Regnier estimated the damage would cost $60,000 to $70,000 to repair. The appraised value of the 18-year-old house before the fire was $76,550.
It just makes good business sense to replace outdated city water and electric meters with a new system that could allow city employees to accurately read meters by radio frequency, city administrator Doug Kjellin told the council Monday. “This would pay for itself quickly,” he said.
If the walls of the Pilsen Community Center could talk, what a tale it could tell. Children’s voices used to echo through the halls of the former school building. When the school closed and a group of shareholders took on the task of making it a community center, it became a popular place for wedding dances and other celebrations — with polka music and laughter wafting through the rafters.
It’s a ploy con artists use to tug on a person’s heartstrings — especially the elderly — claiming to be a relative and in need of money. According to Marion Police Chief Josh Whitwell, scammers are hitting local people again, calling and e-mailing residents, claiming to be a relative.
Dorene Hart, 83, of Topeka, died March 4. She was born July 21, 1927, in Marion County, to William and Lillian Stenzel.
Dianne J. Heidel, 62, of Hillsboro, died March 6 at home. She was born July 10, 1948, at Hillsboro, to Harold and Elda (Martens) Pschigoda.
Frank A. Maloun, 58, of Walton, died March 7 at his home. He was born Sept. 10, 1952, in Marion, to Frank J. and Kathryn (Dowell) Maloun.
Martha S. McCloud, 92, of Newton, died March 5 at Presbyterian Manor in Newton. Born Dec. 2, 1918, in Hillsboro, to Henry S. and Sarah (Flaming) Schroeder, she was the first baby born at the former Salem Hospital.
Warren A. Meador, 92, of Anthony, died March 7 at Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital, Medicine Lodge. Born Oct. 17, 1918, in Forgan, Okla., to Walter and Florence (Imel) Meador, he owned a grocery store in Anthony until 1973.
Robert W. Nickel, 68, of Wichita, died March 6 at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita. Born Feb. 21, 1943, in Hillsboro, to Huldrich and Sarah (Rempel) Nickel, he was a locomotive engineer for 37 years with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company.
Ernest A. Peterson, 89, of Wichita, retired certified public accountant and founding partner of Peterson, Peterson and Goss, died March 3, 2011. Visitation with the family was 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday, at Downing & Lahey Mortuary East, Wichita.
Tillie D. Schmidt, 88, passed away March 3, 2011, at St. Luke Hospital in Marion. She was born July 29, 1922, at Turpin, Okla., the daughter of H.B. and Lena (Nachtigal) Regier.
Marion County Commission will have at least five public meetings in March to discuss a proposed jail, which would be paid for with a 0.5 percent sales tax increase if a ballot question passes April 5. Meetings are scheduled for March 21 at Florence City Building, March 22 at Hillsboro Senior Center, March 23 in Marion City Building basement, March 28 in Goessel City Building, and March 30 in the Peabody-Burns High School cafeteria. All meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Marion County Commission voted Friday in a special meeting to keep employee health insurance benefits as steady as possible. The county will continue to pay the full premium for a single employee’s coverage with a $1,000 deductible, despite a 16 percent rate increase. Employees may elect to take a plan with a lower deductible and pay the difference in rates. Employees can also pay the difference in premium to have their entire family covered.
Sunshine Week is next week. This specific week is not one many put on their calendars or plan parades to celebrate but it is important to all of us. The American Society of News Editors initiated the annual observance in March 2005 to educate the public about the importance of open government and the dangers of excessive and unnecessary secrecy.
Journalists were abuzz this week when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the radical group from Topeka regarding their freedom of speech rights. The court found that the group has the right to continue their protests and picketing. No, it doesn’t seem fair that anyone can desecrate a funeral or burial of any person — soldier or civilian.
I need your input. The Kansas House is about to vote on a matter of seismic proportions in the near future. We will soon vote on many pieces of tax legislation — none of them is likely to address the long list of exemptions from paying property or sales tax for various groups and entities. The issue at hand is whether Kansas should eliminate corporate income tax.
Parent sleep is a beautiful thing. Not new-parent sleep, which involves some extreme sensitivity to the slightest whimper from a newborn that defies laws of biology and the effects of most over-the-counter sleep aids. I’m talking the kind of sleep that sets in when your body has learned what sounds from your child indicate actual distress, and these become the only thing capable of waking you before your body is darn well ready to be awakened.
LETTERS:
Build truck parking
Mike and Doug Regnier took time on Thursday to celebrate Marion Auto Supply’s 50th anniversary in Marion with a pancake lunch. What does it take to make a business last for 50 years?
St. Luke Hospital Auxiliary presented a check for $26,000 to the St. Luke Hospital Foundation Thursday. Funding for the gift was provided by the proceeds from the St. Luke Auxiliary thrift store. “We’re one of the largest contributors to the foundation,” auxiliary president Elora Robinson said. “It’s all due to the shop and the volunteers. We had over 18,629 volunteer hours this past year.”
BIRTHS:
Samantha Bell,
Ethan Farnsworth,
Brintley Kyle,
Raymond WittCORRESPONDENTS:
Burdick,
Senior CenterENGAGEMENTS:
Legg-Sattler,
Ruder-WanerMEMORIES:
10,
25,
35,
50,
60,
100,
125 years ago
Superintendent Lee Leiker laid out six options Monday for the USD 408 Board of Education to consider to counteract losing $449,500 in funding. The total includes $57 in state funding per student this year, $175 per student next year, and $40 of funding cut from the KPERS fund. Declining enrollment is also a factor. Leiker estimated that the district will lose about 21 students next year.
Marion High School seniors Landon Leiker and Sarah Guetersloh earned coveted positions playing first-part on their respective instruments of Kansas Music Educator’s Association 1A through 4A All-State Honor Band. They are two of about 100 musicians who were selected for the honor band, but the selection of students to play first -part is even more elite — Leiker was one of four trumpet players and Guetersloh was one of three trombone players. With strong performances with the district honor band Leiker and Guetersloh earned the right to audition for the state band in Salina. They aced that audition but another awaited them Feb. 24 in Wichita before the Kansas Music Educators Association state honor band and choir performances.
It has been a while since a Centre High School boys basketball team has played for a sub-state championship. This year’s team earned that right Friday by defeating Little River, 49-47, in a 1A Division I sub-state tournament at Burrton. However, Saturday’s matchup with first-seed Pretty Prairie, with a record of 17-1, proved to be too much for the 12-8 Cougars. They suffered a 31-point loss, 72-41. However, they walked away with a sub-state runner-up plaque.