Marion County RECORD

Murder defendant convicted

Dustin Tyler Smith, 25, of McPherson pleaded no contest Monday and was convicted of first degree murder in McPherson County District Court. Smith had been charged with the murder of McPherson resident Justin Milne on May 29. Four additional charges, including aggravated burglary and possession of a firearm, were dropped as a part of the plea.

Multiple businesses start in Florence

Before opening their Florence consignment shop, This and That Shop, on Thursday, Iva Britton and Sandy Harper noticed an interesting phenomenon. While working to prepare the rented storefront on the west side of Main Street in Florence, they would watch people come up to the window, who did not realize the business owners were in the building, and peek inside to see what was going on.

Circles of Hope sells marshmallow shirts

Marion County Circles of Hope, an anti-poverty group working to establish a local program, has hitched its fundraising wagon to an attempt to set a world record for biggest marshmallow roast, a move that is providing outstanding returns so far. Circles of Hope, under the umbrella of Families and Communities Together, ordered about 500 T-shirts and sweatshirts with a design declaring “Marion County Lake: Where Marshmallows Come Home To ROAST.”

Susan Ilene Berry

Susan Ilene Berry, 45, of West Salem, Ohio, passed away surrounded by family, friends, and loved ones on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012, at the Cleveland Clinic. Heaven got a little brighter when Susan went home to walk with the Lord after a courageous three-year battle with cancer. She was born Oct. 5, 1966, in Kansas City, Kan., the adopted daughter of Milferd Leland and Marilyn Eve Flaming Schmidt.

Arlin Paul Funk

Arlin Paul Funk, 43, died Feb. 29, 2012, after a battle with cancer. He was born March 1, 1968, in Hillsboro to Norman Funk and Viola Lorentz (nee Peters). He graduated from Emporia State University, where he met Kimberly Thornburg. They married on July 2, 1994, in Kirkwood, Mo. He was a physical education teacher and coach for 16 years.

Bernice M. McDowell

Bernice M. McDowell, 87, of Hillsboro died March 3, 2012, in Hillsboro. She was born July 4, 1924, near Durham to Frank and Agnes (Hajek) Steiner. She was a retired USD 410 school cook.

Esther Prieb

Esther M. Prieb, 89, died March 1, 2012, in Hillsboro. She was born on Jan. 11, 1923, in rural Hillsboro to Ben and Martha (Dyck) Eitzen. She married Jona Prieb on Oct. 28, 1943, in rural Hillsboro. She was a homemaker.

Fern Timm

Fern I. Timm, 90, died March 4, 2012, at Herington Municipal Hospital. She was born April 5, 1923, on the family farm near Aulne to Clee and Tressie (Blankley) Ford. She graduated from Marion High School in 1938. She married Merle Timm on June 1, 1948.

Edwin M. Wheeler Sr.

A memorial service for Edwin M. Wheeler Sr. will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Marion Presbyterian Church. Inurnment will follow at Marion Cemetery. A memorial has been established with St. Luke Hospital, in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, 205 Elm St., Marion KS 66861.

Accidents

Civil cases

County jail

Criminal cases

Deeds

Emergency dispatches

Hillsboro police report

Peabody Municipal Court

Peabody police report

Marion City Council discusses police items

The introduction of a new police officer and revisions to the firearms section of the Marion Police Department employee manual and topped the Marion City Council agenda Monday. Police Chief Tyler Mermis introduced newly hired officer Sarah Alam, who is the department’s fourth full-time officer.

County jail to open in August

Construction of the new county jail and law enforcement center could be completed in June, Josh Walker told Marion County Commission on Feb. 29. Allowing for time to furnish the new facility, move equipment over, and train staff on procedures that will be different for the new building, the county could move inmates into the new jail in August. Architect Andy Pitts of Treanor Architects P.A. discussed several proposed change orders for the project. The commission approved the change orders, which amounted to a net increase of $10,832 in price.

Commission opposes Medicaid order

Marion County Commissioners approved a resolution Monday opposing Gov. Sam Brownback’s executive order reorganizing Medicaid programs in the state. “I’m scared of having for-profit companies come in who have no experience with long-term care,” Harvey-Marion County Community Developmental Disability Organization Director Elizabeth Schmidt said. “The more I learn about it, the more scared I get.”

Road overlay estimates go up

Kirkham Michael engineering provided an updated estimate for the cost to overlay 2 inches of blacktop on 25 miles of county roads. Because of an increase in oil prices, the projected cost increased about $700,000 to $3 million. The roads planned for overlays are 120th between K-15 and Indigo, 60th between Peabody and Timber, 40th between Timber and U.S. 77, and 330th west of K-15.

Lincolnville gets community grant for goals

Lincolnville Parks and Recreation Chairman Sherri Pankratz reported to the city council Monday receipt of a $2,500 grant from Tri-County Telephone Association. It comes from the company’s Community Development Initiative program. The money will be used to erect two adjustable basketball goals in the tennis court in the city park. Along with an additional $100 from the city, the grant covers the cost of concrete for goal setting and stabilization and paint to distinguish lanes, free throw lines, and 3-point lines. The projected completion date is May 31.

Radiation physicist takes show on the road

People with cancer might not know it, but Duke Eldridge of Peabody travels over 70,000 miles yearly to make sure disease detection and treatment machines in Kansas are working at their highest capacity to make health and healing possible. Eldridge is a medical physicist and president of Kansas Radiation Physics, Inc., a small company located in Peabody. He is one of three board certified physicists who criss-cross the state of Kansas visiting every certified hospital and health facility, checking Magnetic Resonance Imaging machines, Computed Tomography scanners, X-ray units, and mammography machines to make sure they are operating properly.

Personal trainer's workouts no joke

Have you ever felt a deep burn in your muscles, in your glutes and hamstrings, and felt the unnatural urge to come back for more? This is one of Karen Williams’ specialties.

Easy chair should help me get healthy

I knew better, but the info-commercial was so convincing. Who doesn’t want to look toned, fit, and healthy? Who wouldn’t take the easiest way to get there? I pulled out my credit card, went online, and signed up for three easy payments of $49.99 to get my very own “Twister,” a phenomenal padded chair with back rollers, handlebars and an easy-to-follow workout guide. It was supposed to be a painless, effortless way to lose weight. That was six months ago. The chair that was supposed to be the answer to all things firm and fit, did not work for me. I was so stupid.

Brookens talks about child-abuse, tech school bills

On Wednesday when we reconvened after turnaround, we reconsidered HB 2212 that I wrote about last week. We were asked to vote the bill down so those who thought the bill contained the original part and the amendment would have the opportunity to vote on that; we had the assurance the bill would return soon with both parts. Using gotcha politics is truly no way to run the legislature, so I voted to kill the bill on the faith that it would return for another vote. I will continue to push for property tax relief.

NFL Chief's reporter to speak

Former NFL long-snapper and current Kansas City Chiefs’ radio field reporter Kendall Gammon has agreed to speak June 2 during Chingawassa Days in Marion. Gammon was born in Rose Hill and played college football for the Pittsburg State University Gorillas. He was a team captain his junior and senior seasons, and in his 1991 senior season, the Gorillas won their third NCAA Division II national championship.

Bull listed in Angus report

Kurt Schweinler, farm loan officer for the Farm Service Agency, advises farmers and ranchers needing farm credit because of storms, high winds, tornadoes, and flooding from May 19, 2011 through June 4, 2011, who think they are eligible for FSA assistance, to apply at the FSA office, 3020 W. 18th Ave., Emporia before March 29. Marion County is in the area covered by the disaster declaration.

Family makes mission trip to Haiti

Imagine being surrounded by children who have no mother or father but are happy for the things they do have — like a safe place to live, plenty of food, adequate clothing and, most of all, the love they receive by those who care for them. That is what John and Robin Dicks of Marion experienced when they spent 10 days at an orphanage in Haiti in January. Their children, 19-year-old Olivia, 16-year-old Madison, and 13-year-old Wesley, shared in the unforgettable experience.

Free screening for children March 13

A free screening for children birth through 5 years old will held March 13 in Marion at Marion Presbyterian Church, at the corner of Lawrence and Elm Streets. Appointments will be available 3 to 5:30 p.m. At the screening, development will be checked in the learning, motor, language, and social areas. Vision and hearing will also be screened. This process usually takes at least one hour for a child to complete. All children are welcome, but an appointment is necessary. Call (620) 382-2858 for an appointment.

Aging coordinator distributes information

The Senior Citizens of Marion County Board of Directors met Feb. 17. Marion County Aging coordinator Gayla Ratzlaff distributed a handout with information about commodities, wellness class, Tai Chi, Medical Home and Accountable Care Organizations, and the future of senior center in Marion County. The wellness class started Feb. 29 at Parkside Congregate in Hillsboro 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays for six weeks. Tai chi class began 4 to 5 p.m. Monday. Classes continue on Mondays and Wednesdays for six weeks at the Marion Senior Center.

Aprons focus of next LIR

Susie Haver, Concordia, plans to use singing, storytelling, and “show and tell” to trigger memories of growing up at the next Learning in Retirement program March 16 at Tabor College. Haver will present “Aprons, The Great American Cover-up,” at 9:50 a.m. in the lobby of the Wohlgemuth Music Education Center. She began searching for and collecting aprons in 1999 after seeing a similar exhibition at the Dane Hansen Museum in Logan. To date, Haver has gathered hundreds of aprons that she uses in her program, which she has been presenting since 2004.

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County students meet to solve problems

Dropping eggs from 17 feet in the air, building skyscrapers from Popsicle sticks and bridges from pasta were just some of the activities that drew 15 Marion County students to the Engineering Expo at the University of Kansas on Feb. 23. Students from Marion and Goessel, ranging from third through twelfth grades, competed alongside nearly 2,000 other students from Kansas and Missouri in activities designed to test their ingenuity at solving engineering problems.

Marion High School play is this weekend

Marion High School will present a melodrama by Vern Harden, “She Was Only Marginally Modest,” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the USD 408 Performing Arts Center. As a melodrama, the play clearly delineates who are the heroes and villains, while encouraging the audience to get involved by cheering the heroes and booing the villains.

Kindergarten roundup is March 26

Marion Elementary School will host a roundup March 26 for children who are eligible to enroll for kindergarten this fall in Marion-Florence USD 408. Children must be 5 years old by Aug. 31 to be eligible for kindergarten.

Nessor gets Tabor College scholarship

The $64,000 question for Beth Nesser of Florence is, “What did you do to earn a $64,000 scholarship from Tabor College in Hillsboro?” The Marion High School senior was one of four upcoming high school graduates who recently were awarded $64,000 Presidential Leadership Scholarships by Tabor College.

Centre girls win state berth

A 39-year absence from the state tournament ended for the Centre High School girls’ basketball team Saturday, as they survived a wild finish to defeat Fairfield, 35-32, for the Class 1A Division I sub-state championship in Goessel. The Lady Cougars had the ball and the lead, 33-30, as they came out of a timeout with 40 seconds remaining in the game. It took 39 anxious seconds before Centre was able to secure the victory.

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