Marion County RECORD

Commission approves wind farm permit

Marion County Commission approved a conditional use permit Monday for a wind farm proposed by Rex Savage of Windborne Energy, of rural Florence. Marion County Planning Commission had recommended approval following a two-session hearing at the beginning of November. The Planning Commission received no unfavorable letters or public comments regarding the company’s application.

County Relay for Life sees changes

Changes are in the works for Relay for Life Marion County in 2011. Event chairman Jamie Norris announced next year’s theme would be “Relay Remodel.”

Rhino statues attract couple to Marion

When Steve and Greta Kellepouris of Savannah, Mo., planned a weeklong vacation to celebrate their anniversary, Greta suggested touring unusual attractions in Kansas. They began researching attractions, and when Steve read about the concrete rhinoceros statues in Marion, he knew they had to make the trip.

County's fight with pipeline exemption gains attention

When Marion County Commissioner Dan Holub attended a legislative luncheon Thursday at Manhattan, he had a good idea of what he would hear from legislators who serve Riley County regarding the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline exemption. He assumed he would hear the same “canned” responses he had heard before — and he was right.

Commission approves pay increased for county attorney

Marion County Commission approved extra pay for County Attorney Susan Robson on Monday. Earlier this year, commissioners approved raises for all elected officials, excluding the county attorney and commissioners. The raises were intended to bring officials’ pay in line with comparable counties.

Was this the last farm city steak feed?

At Monday’s farm city appreciation banquet sponsored by Marion Chamber of Commerce, many of the participants talked about what the event used to feature. The chairman of the banquet, Roger Hannaford III, talked about how he once served 500 farmers and ranchers. On Monday, they expected to hand out 250 KC strip steak meals.

Hospital renovations on time, under budget

The renovation project at St. Luke Hospital is moving quickly, chief executive officer Jeremy Armstrong said. He gave an update to Marion Chamber of Commerce members Friday at the monthly luncheon.

Dorothea Bean

Dorothea J. Bean, 67, of Plano, Texas, formerly of Wichita and Haysville, died Nov. 13. She was a retired employee of JI Case, Wichita.

Ola Blackford

Ola “Fern” Blackford, 91, of Whitewater, passed away Nov. 18, 2010, at Salem Home in Hillsboro. She was born Nov. 12, 1919, in Englewood. She was the daughter of Ralph and Queen Hardesty.

Larry Goering

Larry G. Goering, 74, of Ayden, N.C., died Nov. 10 after an illness. Born April 11, 1936, in Moundridge, he graduated from Peabody High School in 1955.

Myrtle Mohn

Myrtle S. Mohn, 95, of Hillsboro, died Nov. 17 at Parkside Homes, Hillsboro. Born Dec. 7, 1914, in Goessel, to Peter J. and Susanna (Schmidt) Voth, she was a bookkeeper.

Betty Oursler

Betty A. Oursler, 84, of Marion, was welcomed into the arms of her Savior on Nov. 15, 2010, from Via Christi Hospital on St. Francis Street, Wichita. Betty Ann Davis was born to Fred and Nanna Mae (Sloan) Davis on April 30, 1926, in Hutchinson. At a young age, her parents moved to Oklahoma where she attended country school until age 9, at which time the family moved to Newton, where she attended Newton schools and graduated from Newton High School.

George Steiner

George Steiner, 90, of Wichita, passed away Nov. 18, 2010. Rosary was 7 p.m., Monday, with a funeral Mass at 10 a.m., Tuesday, both at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.

Accidents

Civil division

County jail

Criminal division

Deeds recorded

Domestic division

Hillsboro police

Marriage licenses

Peabody police

Incident report

Small claims

Traffic division

To err is human, to give away tax money can be reckless

I had an opportunity to attend a meeting Thursday with Riley County officials and legislators who serve that area. I heard first-hand from four of the legislators who voted in favor of the bill to make it possible for TransCanada Pipeline Company to receive millions of dollars in property tax exemptions for the next 10 years.

Off the Record

Here are the top 10 things for which I’m thankful: 10. To live in a country where we can express our opinions without fear.

Seeds of something fine

I gripe and complain about the stresses of mothering, but those who know me know my daughter is the love of my life. Children were not in any sort of plan I had for my life, but when she came along I couldn’t say no. I won’t lie, everything I feared about having kids has come true — the amount of sacrifice, the work, the poop. It’s hard and I expected it to be.

Hope in the Heartland

My parents tried this line on me: “You should be thankful for those peas. There are hungry children around the world who would be happy to eat them.” Inspirational. So I volunteered to ship the disgusting item directly to those less fortunate but apparently more grateful youngsters.

One Woman's View

At this Thanksgiving time I am thankful that I live in a country which has set aside a day to be thankful for our blessings. Not many nations do that. Yes, we should thank God for our blessings every day. Yes, this one day we have set aside often seems to get lost in the mad rush from Halloween to Christmas. Even I wore a pair of Christmas socks last week, but that was only because I could not find two other clean socks that matched. In spite of these shortcomings as a society, the fact we have a day for giving thanks shows we are trying to do the right thing. I guess I’m thankful to live in a country where many people are always trying to do the right thing. I am thankful that I had the privilege of voting in the last election. I have voted in every election for the past 50 years. Do you realize that is more than half the time women have been allowed to vote? From what I have heard of my paternal grandmother, she was a person with great intelligence, compassion, and insight. However, she could only vote in one election before she died.

LETTERS:

Hillsboro family attempts to retrieve dog from shelter

A family dog typically is more than just an animal to its owners. For the Brad and Jane Wiens family of rural Hillsboro, Lacey, their golden retriever, was a companion, a protector, and a connection to the family’s experiences.

Farmland prices trend upward

During a Nov. 16 auction, farmland near the intersection of 120th and Limestone roads sold for $2,450 an acre. “To my knowledge, that’s the highest price paid in Marion County,” Bob Watson of The Citizens’ State Bank in Hillsboro said. “I would think that’s a new record.”

Spreading Christmas cheer

Pixies, postcards among treasures, Christmas home tour is 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday By SUSAN BERG Managing editor Pixies, postcards, and family heirlooms will greet guests in the home of Jerome and Donna Hajek, 320 N. Freeborn St., Marion, Sunday during the Christmas home tour.

Ceramic village is part of home tour

With nimble fingers and a steady hand, Mary Jeffrey of Marion gingerly sets a ceramic building amid other figurines Monday on a blanket of artificial snow. For the past six years, Jeffrey has shared her Christmas village with her church family at Valley United Methodist Church, 300 E. Santa Fe St., Marion. This year is no different.

BIRTHS:

CORRESPONDENTS:

MEMORIES:

In search of perfection

Marion High School sophomore Austin Pedersen faced a dilemma on Thursday. The glass top to the baseball memorabilia case he was building fit into the oak frame he cut, but the glass was loose and it had a tendency to wobble.

Bal-a-vis-x is way to improve focus, reading

Before state assessment tests this spring, Marion Elementary School students will prepare by bouncing round rubber balls and tossing small beanbags. Bal-a-vis-x has been reinstituted in the MES curriculum this year. Every elementary school student performs 5 to 10 minutes of bal-a-vis-x before every physical education class.

Students share Thanksgiving Day recipes

Second graders at Marion Elementary School submitted recipes for pies and turkey. Pumpkin pie recipes

Rodeo is part of football player's life

It was not unusual this fall for Centre High School senior Tanner Brunner to go from football practice after school to roping cattle on his family’s ranch near Ramona. Sometimes he played a football game Friday evening, leading his team on its way to a 10-1 season, and was up early the next morning to head for a rodeo competition somewhere in the state.

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