BREAKING NEWS
UPDATED AFTER PRINT DEADLINE
Peabody-Burns USD 398 had school Friday despite a bomb threat made Feb. 14 at Peabody-Burns Junior/Senior High School.
On Feb. 21, Superintendent Ron Traxson sent parents of students a letter about the threat. No information was provided to local or regional news outlets.
Games scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in the Hillsboro sub-state tournament have been rescheduled for today and Thursday respectively.
Girls’ basketball games are scheduled to start at 3 p.m. today. Hillsboro and Marion are scheduled to play at 7:30 p.m.
Calli Burkholder, 7, saw all the snow on the ground and knew one thing: she just had to dig a snow tunnel.
“I’ve never played in snow like this,” the Marion resident said. “There so much; it’s perfect to play in. You can push it, pack it down and even dig a hole through it if you want to. I know I can make a snow tunnel. It’ll be great. If I can get it done soon enough, I can hide from my mother. She won’t know where to find me.”
Customers who waited until Monday morning to do their grocery shopping at Carlsons’ Grocery in Marion found themselves faced with limited choices.
Twice in one week, diligent residents stocked up on essentials in preparation for winter storms. Not wanting to be snowed in with empty pantries, they filled up shopping carts and emptied store shelves.
Cynthia Gault knew she would never forgive herself if she didn’t attend the fundraiser for Deanna Snyder.
“That little girl’s story just tore me to pieces,” the Lindsborg resident said, explaining that her granddaughter is close to Deanna’s age. “I don’t know what I’d do if my little Emily had a brain tumor. It’s got to be the worst thing a parent could go through. I came here today just to support the family. Money isn’t something they need to be worrying about right now.”
Ida Hansen was walking on the sidewalk when she noticed that her right foot was wet.
“I must have stepped into a puddle or something,” the Marion resident said. “I’m usually really careful with the footing, especially after getting snow. Things are beginning to melt right now but there’s still some ice and snow on the walkways. It’s pretty dangerous. One slip could land you in the hospital for weeks.”
Doris E. Berhnardt, 89, died Monday at St. Luke Living Center in Marion, where she lived for a couple of months.
She was born Nov. 22, 1923, at Ramona and graduated from high school there in 1939. She and her husband, Victor, farmed in the Lost Springs area for a number of years. They later moved to Lyons where they owned and operated a motel, and moved later to Buhler where Doris worked as a supervisor in a grain sack factory.
Robert McLinden, 86, died Feb. 20 at Peabody Care Center LLC.
He was born April 17, 1926, to Jessie Adams McLinden and Thomas McLinden of Marion.
Mayor Mary Olson and City Administrator Doug Kjellin both support recycling pickup for Marion.
Olson said single-stream recycling is something she has always supported.
When Marion County offices are closed because of weather, the county actually pays more wages than when offices are open.
County commissioners asked County Clerk Tina Spencer what is done with compensation when there are closures.
Sherri Higgins of rural Marion has had some setbacks in life, but one way or another she has always persevered. Gardening in central Kansas also brings with it a certain set of difficulties, but with heirloom seeds and an inability to sit still, Higgins has found a way to grow and persevere, in life and in gardening.
“Normally at this time I already have my tomato seedlings planted,” she said. “But the weather just has not cooperated at all this past year. That, plus the fact that the wind blew the roof off my greenhouse a little while back; it’s been difficult.”
Wendy Collier‘s heart sank when she saw the amount of snow that had drifted in front of her door.
“I didn’t think I could get out,” she said. “Luckily, when I pushed on the door, the snow moved and I could sort of dig my way out.”
Don and Marilyn Ratzlaff raised six children in Hillsboro and now that their family has grown to 30 members, their picturesque home on South Main Street provides just the right base for children and grandchildren who come as go as needed.
“Right now we have a daughter and her two girls staying with us as her husband is in Austin, Texas,” Don Ratzlaff said on Tuesday. “They will be moving shortly, but we have plenty of room for them to stay here until the house is ready there.”
Felicia White of Hillsboro is on a mission: to teach her children about gardening.
“I want them to learn that they can grow what they eat,” she said.
While recent snowfall is encouraging for local farmers, it also adds moisture weeds need to overtake area gardens.
“I just know it is going to be a bad year for weeds,” Esther Good of Peabody said, explaining she plans to spend at least 10 hours per week in her gardens this summer. “My knees hurt already, just thinking about all the work.”
Many people welcomed the snow dumped recently in Marion County, but not so welcome was the task of cleaning off sidewalks, driveways, and even rooftops in some cases.
“My wife wanted me to clear a path to our mailbox, but when the snow plow comes through it just sends it flying back up in here,” said Bob Woelk of Hillsboro on Saturday.
When I was at lunch Tuesday, a friend told me he was glad for the snowstorms we’ve had in the past week because it was the first time he was able to use the snow blower he bought about two years ago.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy we got the snow. We needed the moisture, and we need still more in the coming months. But to me, a snow blower goes in the category of things you hope you don’t have to use even when you have bought it — not quite to the same extent as health insurance or life insurance, but it is better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
Snow. The word itself can elicit reactions of sheer joy to sheer terror and any emotions in between depending on who you are. After the weather this past week, it is evident that we have a great crew of city employees who worked tirelessly to make our roads passable again. A huge thanks goes out to them!
For our household the snow was an incredible gift. I know there are many families like us in this town who feel like from the time the alarm goes off in the morning to the time our heads hit the pillow at night we only see each other briefly at breakfast and dinner. At our house that schedule had been going on for many months it seems. Then came the snow.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
All snowed inLETTERS:
Who is the legistlature working for?,
Invest in your communityONE WOMAN'S VIEW:
Self-esteem undermined
The Marion/Florence FFA chapter is auctioning the services of a high school student for an eight-hour day on March 4 at the FFA Alumni work auction.
Funds raised help support the activities of the local FFA chapter by providing money for chapter trips, awards for members, and two alumni scholarships.
Flint Hills Rural Electric Cooperative Association Inc. will have its 75th annual meeting Tuesday at Centre High School.
The meal will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tallgrass Express String Band will present entertainment at 6:30, and the meeting will begin at 7 p.m.
Marion City Library will celebrate Dr. Seuss’ (Theodore Geisel’s) birthday with a special storytime event for children ages 3 to 8 from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday. Seuss was born March 2, 1904.
The event will include a Dr. Seuss story, crafts, and a Dr. Seuss-themed snack. Happy Hustler Reading Group and 4-H Club is putting on the event.
Valley United Methodist Church will host a 2013 World Day of Prayer service at 7 p.m. March 1. The theme is: “I was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me.”
The World Day of Prayer is an ecumenical celebration of prayer and prayerful action. The 2013 service begins at sunrise in the Pacific region and, following the earth’s orbit, will spread all around the world.
Marion Kiwanis Club will have a 90th anniversary celebration at 6:30 p.m. April 18 in the Marion Community Center.
The club met Tuesday with 15 members present. The program was singing by club members.
The American Red Cross blood mobile will be in Marion from 2:15 to 6:45 p.m. March 11 at Eastmoor United Methodist Church.
More than 30 blood drives were canceled in January due to weather. Janet Bryant and Joni Crofoot are co-chairs of the drive. All blood types are needed.
Bluestem Art Guild met Feb. 15 at Grand Central Hotel and Grill in Cottonwood Falls. Present were Betty Fetrow, Cher Heller Olson, Linda Shoults, Eleanor Phillips, Doris Gerstner, Marita Bolson, Madonna Schafers, Tillie Schafers, Sue Clough, Lydia Gates, Bennie Holtsclaw, Julie Warner, Denise Fetrow, and Jean Bolson.
Several members displayed current painting projects, including an oil painting of a barn at sunset by Shoults, a watercolor of a kitten by Betty Fetrow, a rocky stream and roads through a forest by Phillips, a colored pastel pencil of a bluebird by Clough, and a tree with moon in the background and a cactus, both by Warner.
Trevor Schafers placed second in an eight-wrestler bracket Sunday at the 6-and-younger state wrestling tournament in Salina.
Trevor defeated his first opponent in the 70-pound bracket by pin and then defeated his second opponent, 2-1.
ANNIVERSARY:
Herzet's to celebrate 40thCORRESPONDENTS:
TampaMEMORIES:
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125 years ago
Four of five Marion County school districts closed schools because of snow on Tuesday.
For USD 398, 408, and 411, it was the fourth consecutive snow day. USD 410 had three consecutive snow days but had school off on Friday for other reasons.
USD 397 Superintendent Jerri Kemble received a national award recognizing school superintendents for integrating technology in schools.
The Tech-Savvy Superintendent Award is given annually to only 10 school superintendents in the U.S., from more than 400 nominations from districts from coast to coast.
Marion senior wrestlers Brody Carroll and Evan Slater both had accomplished wrestling careers.
Carroll earned trips to the state tournament every year in high school. He amassed more than 150 victories as a wrestler.