Marion County RECORD

EMT urges roundabout construction

Gene Winkler has seen enough. A fatality accident that claimed the life of 23-year-old Sai Ramanadham of Warrensburg, Mo., on Nov.16 is the most recent in a long history of accidents at the U.S. 56/U.S. 77/K-150 junction east of Marion, and Winkler believes the time has come for the intersection to be modified to increase safety.

Bowen gets life sentence in rape case

Standing before Eighth Judicial District Chief Judge Michael Powers on Dec. 7, Terry Lee Bowen, 65, heard that he will spend the rest of his life in prison for the rape of a 14-year old girl in June of 2010. The sentence handed down by Powers denies Bowen any chance at parole. The life sentence, for the first count of rape on which he was found guilty, will be served concurrently with sentences of 155 months each for guilty verdicts on the second rape count, the count of criminal sodomy, and the count of kidnapping.

Music enlivens Christmas celebration

As advertised, the annual Marion Christmas celebration had quirky collections — miniature rocky Main Streets with diminutive store fronts and penguins. The music was unexpected. Former Hillsboro High School band director Gregg Walker played saxophone and flute outside of Heerey Real Estate. He was playing with accompaniment to his own Christmas album, which he recorded this past week in his home studio at 1743 Jade Road, Hillsboro.

Unruh makes dog treats from leftover chicken livers

What is an American FFA degree holder to do when his mother’s freezer is full of more than 100 pounds of chicken livers, leftovers from a successful poultry proficiency project? Well, Duane Unruh of rural Peabody decided to make dog treats, and after some experimentation, came up with a winning recipe. “The first time I tried it, I made about five different recipes,” Unruh said. “I narrowed it down to the one that was the easiest to make, used the most chicken livers, and tasted the best according to my dog, Max.”

Nativity reminds Peabody woman of reason for Christmas season

Brenda Riggs has a list, and at last count, it contained 165 entries. It is not a list for gift purchases, but rather one of the nativity scenes she and husband, Dennis, have collected during their marriage. Each entry describes each scene and who provided it. “I can connect with where I got them,” she said.

MHS musicians to present concert

The Marion High School Singers will present their annual Christmas Concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Performing Arts Center. The Marion High School choir and band will give a Christmas concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, also in the Performing Arts Center.

Ambulance service having busiest year ever

Emergency Medical Services Director Steve Smith told Marion County Commission on Monday that he expects the ambulance service to break the county record for number of ambulance calls in a year. Through the end of November, county ambulance crews had been called out 1,090 times. The record for a single year is 1,151 in 2008.

William Krause

Longtime former Peabody publisher William V. “Bill” Krause died Dec. 6, 2011, in Peabody. He was 88 years of age. He had been in failing health for several years. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Peabody United Methodist Church. Interment was in the Chester, Neb., cemetery.

Doris N. Floyd

Doris N. Floyd, 84, of Herington died Dec. 12, 2011, at Herington Municipal Hospital. She was born Feb. 7, 1927, in Herington to Robert H. and Helen C. (McRae) Herpich. She was a member of First Christian Church, Herington, and taught Sunday school and vacation Bible school. She graduated from Herington High School in 1946 and received her teaching certificate from Emporia Normal School. She taught in one-room schools in Morris County. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi and Domestic Science Club.

Clara Robinson

Clara D. Robinson, 81, of Enterprise and formerly of Herington died Dec. 7, 2011, at Enterprise Estates. She was born Feb. 7, 1930, at Presque Isle, Maine, to Bertram L. and Mabel E. (Berman) Archer. She was a homemaker and a member of the Kansas Authors Club, receiving numerous awards and being published on several occasions.

Joyce E. White

Joyce E. White, 80, of Fishers, Ind., beloved mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully on Dec. 8, 2011. Joyce was a deeply loving, kind, and generous lady. She was born in Ramona, the daughter of Grover and Eva (Brunner) Anderson, and was a caring teacher committed to her students. After moving to Indianapolis with her husband, she took a job with the federal government. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert P. White; her son, Stanford C. White; and her stepson, Robert L. White.

Marvin Schmidt

Longtime Peabody resident Marvin E. Schmidt, 78, died November 29, 2011 at Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. He was born May 12, 1933, in Goessel to Adolf and Elizabeth (Funk) Schmidt. He served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955.

Glen Strotkamp

Glen A. Strotkamp, 79, of Burns died Dec. 11 at his home. He was born June 5, 1932, to Aloysius and Bertha (Weber) Strotkamp in Butler County. He owned and operated the feed store in Burns for many years. He was a member of Burns Lions Club and St. John’s Catholic Church. He raised cattle, went trap shooting, and was active in the community, serving as a council member and mayor. He served in the U.S. Navy Reserve for eight years.

Deeds

Criminal cases

County jail

Accidents

Hillsboro police report

Marion police report

Who will influence your life?

When former Peabody Gazette-Bulletin editor and publisher Bill Krause died this past week, our community lost one of its best. Although I certainly knew him in his capacity as an editor, I never worked with him or even spent much time discussing the business of journalism with him. I fired off several letters to the editor over the years, but that was as close as I got to the job I have now. My memories of Bill Krause go way back to 1970, shortly after we moved to Peabody. I took a little part-time secretarial job with the Peabody Chamber of Commerce, and he was one of about six or eight directors, serving as president a time or two as well. I just tagged along, typed letters, took minutes, and wrote checks.

Another day in the country

This year we decided to try making our own cards. We made a raid on Hobby Lobby and came away with colored papers, Christmas stickers, glitter, glue strips, stars, ribbon, and blank cards with envelopes — we were going to make cards from scratch. Last night we started. We took over the kitchen table and then, frankly, the whole kitchen with creations either coming or going. Jess had this idea of layering bright colored paper designs on a white card and having a part of that design standing free. I decided to just paint mine with watercolor with the added touch of making something extra that could stand away from the card.

Santa, I need a sleigh

After a week of vehicle related problems, I am thinking I need a sleigh for Christmas. Whoever decided that Santa would deliver Christmas presents every Christmas Eve using a sleigh pulled by reindeer, however long-ago that decision was made, was very, very smart. A sleigh doesn’t need good roads, a sleigh doesn’t need rubber tires, a sleigh doesn’t depend on foreign or domestic oil prices, a sleigh can hold an unfathomable amount of presents, groceries, or children, and a sleigh doesn’t get hit by deer — it gets pulled by them!

Driving dangerously slow

After a couple weeks without writing for my column, I’ve had a lot of experiences that I could write about. I’ve been to my first NFL game, made my first trip to Nebraska, read about the role of policy in city government, won tickets to WWE Live in February, and witnessed an incredible Vespers worship service at the Presbyterian Church. I’m going to assume that there will be enough ink spilled this week on the policy issue, so I will let others write about that. I will also assume that only a handful of readers want to hear about my inaugural visit to Arrowhead Stadium (It was awesome!).

City council made right decision

Jerry (Kline) and Bill (Holdeman) are so right. Zero tolerance does not work, with two exceptions: the game of horseshoes and hand grenades. Doug (Kjellin), you should remember. I do. Lightning is usually always a killer. But I remember once when God showed compassion. Rex L. Siebert
Marion

Hope in the Heartland

What would cause a powerful dictator to fear the existence of one infant? What would cause that man to engage in an unthinkable act of evil? Darkness.

Council renews utility discussion

The city’s utility billing policy was the topic of discussion in public forum Monday at the Marion City Council Meeting. Former Economic Development Director Jami Williams, back in town, asked the council if they were making a change.

Commission debates getting involved with Florence motel

Marion County Commission on Monday mulled whether to take the former Holiday Motel in Florence off the hands of South Central Kansas Economic Development District or whether to allow SCKEDD to sell the building to pay back taxes. After someone defaulted on a loan on the former motel along U.S. 50, SCKEDD took it over. Approximately $27,000 of back property taxes are owed on the property. County Attorney Susan Robson told the commission that SCKEDD has found a potential buyer, which would allow the county to recoup the back taxes.

Survey finds above-average use of alcohol, tobacco in district

Alcohol, marijuana, and smokeless tobacco use among Marion-Florence USD 408 students is higher than county and state averages, according to a report presented Monday at the December meeting of the district Board of Education. The Kansas Communities That Care (CTC) survey was completed by 161 USD 408 students in sixth, eighth, 10th, and 12th grades during the 2010-11 academic year, said Linda Ogden, executive director of Families and Communities Together.

Pine Creek couple shares country appreciation

Wynn Goering and Ardie Schroeder Goering sell Christmas trees at Pine Creek Farm rural Goessel, even though their place of residence the majority of the year is Taos, N.M. Dividing their time between city and county made them appreciate coming home to the farm so much that their goal at Pine Creek became to sell a whole experience rather than just trees.

Concert will feature international Christmas music

The Eastmoor United Methodist Church Chancel Choir, under the direction of Bob Brookens, invites the public to “Christmas Around the World,” presented at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the church sanctuary.

Happy Hustlers donate for Christmas

At 6 p.m. Dec. 5, the Happy Hustlers 4-H Club met at the Marion Christian Church to gather their donations for the community Christmas. Members each brought cookies for cookie plates, put them together, and delivered them to local 4-H supporters. Then the 4-Hers went caroling at St. Luke’s Living Center. The club donated and delivered a basket of fresh fruit to the center. Then they went back to the Christian Church for their monthly meeting. President Nick Meyer called the meeting to order. Junior officers shadowed their respective positions. Jarret McLinden led the Pledge of Allegiance and Lauren McLinden led the 4-H Pledge. Roll call was “Name your favorite Christmas carol.” Secretary Cade Harms read the minutes from the previous meeting and they were approved as read.

Special education board will meet

Marion County Special Education Cooperative Board of Directors will have its monthly meeting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday via conference call, originated in the cooperative’s conference room at 1500 E. Lawrence St., Marion.

Florentine Seniors meet

Florentine Seniors met Friday for lunch. Lenora Graham, Peg Chapelle, and Dave Cowley won door prizes. Betty Ireland and Eileen Hallowell furnished fruit breads.

Neo-century club listens to Christmas program

The Neo-Century Club met Dec. 5 at Hilltop Manor. Members listened to a Christmas program of harp music presented by Anita Hancock. Following the business meeting, the heart sisters exchanged Christmas gifts. Hostesses Suzanne Thole, Pat Oller, and Joyce Duke served refreshments.

Democratic women to meet

Marion County Democratic Women will have a holiday meeting at noon Friday at Hilltop Manor in Marion. The group asks members to bring soup for Marion County Emergency Food Bank and a gift card from a thrift shop for a Christmas gift exchange.

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Teachers, students get lots of use from iPods, IDL

Centre Elementary School first-grade teacher Briana Methvin at Centre Elementary School gave a presentation Monday to the USD 397 board of education about the use of iPods in the kindergarten through second-grade classrooms. She said the iPods are used every day, and each of her 18 students gets one. An iPod is a handheld touchscreen device used for downloading music or other software programs from the Internet.

Many Marion County students receive scholarships

More than 9,500 academic scholarships have been awarded to Kansas State University students for the 2011-12 school year. Here is the list of Marion County students who have received scholarships worth more than $1,000. Florence Danielle Elizabeth Cope, Gladwin A. Read Memorial Fund; Jaclyn Elizabeth Deforest, George and Mary Gephart Scholarship; Alexandria Nicole Rupp, George and Mary Gephart Scholarship. Lincolnville Ripley Kaleane Howard, Activity Scholarship; Tyler Klenda, Edward Arthur Harris and Lydia Caherine McNeal Harris Scholarship. Marion Erica S. Geis, Paul and Deana Strunk Scholarship in Geology and Ada Swineford Scholarship in Geology; Patrick John Hodson, Fairchild Scholarship, Memorial Scholarship and Patrick John Hodson, H.G. and Carol M. Manglesdorf Scholarship; Tonya Hodson, The Marian W. “Dolly” Hardman Endowment; Louis John Scott Holt, Transfer Academic Scholarship; Michael E. Kirkpatrick, Activity Scholarship; Landon Kriss Leiker, Foundation Scholarship, K-State Civic Leadership Scholarship, Nancy Landon Kassebaum Scholarship, and Tomorrow’s Teacher Scholarship; Drew Jacob Maddox, Business Adminstration Telefund Fund; Randal Ernest Regnier, R. Ray and Marina E. Carothers Scholarships; Derek Michael Stuchlik, R. Ray and Marian E. Carothers Scholarship and Henry J. Putnan Memorial Scholarship; Eric William Vogel, Business Administration Telefund Fund. Peabody Emily Renee Harris, Memorial Scholarship; Joshua Klarmann, Memorial Scholarship and Tomorrow’s Teacher Scholarship; Michaela Lee Methvin, Activity Scholarship; Kendall Wade Wiebe, Transfer Academic Scholarship. Ramona Cole Joseph Svoboda, Jim Buchanan Scholarship and R. Ray and Marian E. Carothers Scholarships. Lost Springs Katie Lyn Remy, Activity Scholarship.

MHS implements student-led seatbelt program

The only dummies about seat belt safety Marion High School Principal Tod Gordon wants in his school are Vince and Larry, the crash test dummies who Thursday helped introduce the Seatbelts Are For Everyone (SAFE) program at a school assembly. “I was shocked the first time I stood out there and looked,” Gordon said. “I stood over on the corner, and I counted only about 20 kids who left here with seatbelts on.”

School board hikes driver ed fee

Insurance premiums went down and driver education fees went up, a result of actions taken Monday at the Marion-Florence USD 408 Board of Education meeting. The total 2011-12 insurance premium for the district of $97,400 is a decrease of $2,114, Alex Case of Case & Son Insurance said.

Marion middle school girls' team wins 2

The Marion Middle School girls’ teams faced Berean Monday and Ell-Saline Thursday at Ell-Saline. The A team defeated Berean, 41-18. Marshelle Mermis scored 11 points and Kirsten Hansen scored 10. The A team is now 5-1.

Wildcat boys drop game at Ell-Saline

The Marion Middle School Wildcats competed Thursday at Ell-Saline. The first half was closely contested. After falling behind in the score, the boys rallied near the end of the half to trail only by two points, 18-16.

Co-sponsoring wreestling tournament brings in top talent

Area wrestling fans will get to see some of the top wrestling talent in the state Friday at the Marion County Winter Duals, hosted jointly by Marion High School and Hillsboro High School. “We’ve got schools coming from Belleville all the way down to Wellington, so the whole central part of the state is represented — it’s going to be a great evening for watching wrestling,” Marion athletic director Grant Thierolf said. “We have 16 teams coming in, with 2 returning state champions, 15 state placers, and 48 state qualifiers.”

MHS Warrior boys place fourth in Classic

The Marion High School Warriors finished in fourth place with a 1-2 record in the Marion Classic basketball tournament this past Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at Marion Sports and Aquatics Center. The Warriors opened the tournament Thursday against Berean Academy, ranked first in Class 2A of the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association preseason poll.

Cougar boys place fifth in basketball tournament

The Centre Cougars were defeated Thursday and Friday in the Herington pre-season tournament, but came away with a victory over Wakefield Saturday in a consolation game to place fifth. Northern Heights

Lady Cougars defeat Herington, finish fourth

The Centre Lady Cougars defeated Herington, 57-54, Friday in the second game of pool play in the Herington pre-season basketball tournament. Freshman Shelby Makovec got the Lady Cougars off to a quick start with a three-point shot. Beka Basore, Theo Kassebaum, Cacey Simons, and Makenzie Deines each added points to give Centre a 13-8 first-quarter lead.

MHS wrestling team places second

The Marion High School Warrior wrestling team took second place Saturday at the Hesston Invitational meet in Hesston. Nine of 10 wrestlers who competed for Marion finished in the top four in their weight categories.

Many junior wrestlers medal

The Marion Junior Wrestling Club participated in the Hillsboro Takedown Tournament Dec. 3 and the Gene White Memorial Tournament Saturday in Emporia. hillsboro results 6 and younger division Quenton Taylor, 4; Chance Shults, 3; Caleb Lollar, 2; Landon Dye, 3; Tristan Dye, 3. 8 and younger division Paul Kimbrel, 3; Gunner Brown, 2; Todd Palic, 2. 10 and younger division Hunter Helmer, 3; Charlie Nordquist, 2. 12 and younger division Payton Harms, 2; Bryce Shults, 3; Tyler Arocha, 2; Jarret McLinden, 2. Gene White REsults 6 and younger division Chace Shults, 49 pounds, 2; Trevor Schafers, 61 pounds, 3; Jack Lanning, 52, 2. 10 and younger division Hunter Helmer, 110, 2. 12 and younger division Bryce Shults, 92, 1.

Centre alumnus finishes in top 1% of marathon

Justin Garrard of Ottawa ran the California International Marathon on Dec. 4 in Sacramento, Calif. Garrard, a 2005 graduate of Centre High School, placed 60th overall and 8th in his age division, competing against 6,000 runners. His time of 2 hours, 33 minutes, 46 seconds qualifies him to run in the Boston Marathon. Garrard was a 2009 NAIA all-American marathon runner. Garrard is currently a graduate assistant at Ottawa University, coaching cross-country and track. Garrard will receive his master’s degree in business administration in May.

MHS girls drop 3 games in Marion Classic

The Marion High School Lady Warrior basketball team would have preferred a better outcome than losses to Berean Academy, Eureka, and Belle Plaine in the Marion Classic tournament at Marion Sports and Aquatics Center this past week. A look at statistics, rather than the scoreboard, provides evidence that the young Marion team, driven largely by underclassmen, made some positive strides through the course of the tournament.

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