Marion County RECORD

Nominations sought for donation

Hoch Publishing Company, which publishes the Marion County Record, Hillsboro Star-Journal, and Peabody Gazette-Bulletin, will be donating up to $1,000 to one or more Marion County individuals, families, or charitable programs in need of help this Christmas season. With help from The Lumberyard, Great Plains Federal Credit Union, Prairieland Partners, and Smith Chiropractic — and possibly other businesses in the coming weeks — Hoch Publishing Company is seeking nominations, beginning this week.

Christmas Celebration, home tour is Dec. 2

Organizers are planning the third annual Christmas Celebration in Marion for the afternoon of Dec. 2. The celebration will include music, art, crafts, and a parade. Meanwhile, Marion City Library will have its annual Christmas home tour, visiting two homes in Marion, one in the countryside, and one at Marion County Park and Lake.

Deer collisions increase

When Michael Schwendiman of Marion hit a deer with his 1990 Buick several days ago, he was not alone in his frustration at the accident. “I’ve had at least two or more deer accident reports to look at each morning when I come to work for the past few weeks,” said Marion County Sheriff Rob Craft. “This time of year the deer are moving because of rut and they just are not looking out for cars.”

Tampa Christmas is Dec. 2

The Tampa Community Christmas Celebration will be Dec. 2. Downtown businesses will be open for tours from 3 to 5 p.m., and Tri-County Telephone Association will offer giveaways and refreshments at the Senior Citizens Hall.

Arthur L. Garver

Arthur L. Garver, 96, of Herington died Nov. 13, 2012, at Salina Regional Health Center. He was born Dec. 14, 1915, to Edward H. and Olive (Rains) Garver at Caldwell. He moved to Herington in 1943 and was a Rock Island railroad conductor from 1943 to his retirement in 1976.

Richard T. Johnson

MARION — Richard T. Johnson, 84, passed away Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, at Salem Home of Hillsboro. He was born Jan. 1, 1928, at Vermillion, Kan., in Marshall County. His parents, Joseph and Florence Schuyler Johnson, preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by seven brothers and two sisters.

Pauline King

There will be a committal service at 1 p.m. Friday at Marion Cemetery for Pauline King, who died Sept. 29 in Newton. She is a former Marion Lake resident.

Robert Ellis Phillips

Robert Ellis Phillips, 89, died Nov. 17 at Hillsboro Community Hospital. He was born Nov. 14, 1923 to Luther Phillips and Gladys (Murell) Phillips.

Bernice M. Sturdy

Bernice M. Sturdy, 89, retired nurse, died Nov. 9. She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Anna Conyers; five brothers, Frank, Clarence, Willard, Glen, and Harold; three sisters, Henrietta, Mabel, and Hazel.

Edward W. Svitak

Edward W. Svitak, 95, died Nov. 18, 2012, at St. Luke Living Center in Marion. He was born Nov. 2, 1917 at Pilsen to Rudolph and Josephine Vinduska Svitak. He was a lifelong resident of Pilsen, where he farmed and operated a trucking business.

Accidents reported

Civil cases

County jail

Criminal cases

Deeds

Emergency transports

Hillsboro police

Marion police

Offenses

Peabody municipal court

Peabody police

Traffic cases

Marriage licenses

With tower permit, 911 plans move

With a conditional use permit for a 45-foot radio tower approved by Marion City Council on Nov. 13, Marion County now has a timetable to move emergency communications to its new home. The tower will be installed the last week of November, and the communications department will move from the old jail to the new jail the first week of December, Sheriff Rob Craft said Monday. There will be no gaps in service with the move, he said.

Ambulance calls down 13 percent

Ambulance calls in Marion County were 19 percent lower in October compared to 2011, Marion County Emergency Medical Service Director Steve Smith said Monday. Ambulances were called out 75 times, down from 93 in October 2011. That brings the year-to-date total to 881 calls, compared to 1,013 at the same point last year, a decrease of 13 percent. In October, the Marion ambulance responded to 23 calls; Hillsboro, 22; Peabody, 19; Tampa, 6; Florence, 4; and the backup unit, 1. First responders in Lincolnville went on 3 calls; Goessel, 2; Burns, 1; Florence, 1; and Durham, 0.

County accepting herbicides

Marion County Household Hazardous Waste Department Director Rollin Schmidt told Marion County Commission on Monday that the State of Kansas is conducting a statewide sweep to gather up herbicides containing 2,4,5-T, which is now banned and was a major component of Agent Orange. With the statewide sweep, county residents can take herbicides containing 2,4,5-T to the Household Hazardous Waste Department for disposal. It was commonly used in brush killers, Schmidt said.

The spirit of giving

Thanksgiving is upon us, and with the way big retailers keep moving up their push for more and more money, we’re already being urged to get in the Christmas spirit by racking up big credit card bills. It can be easy to get caught up in the consumerism, but we all know that isn’t the way to really celebrate the coming of Christ. Christ spent much of His ministry helping the helpless, the sick, and the outcast. So what better way to celebrate Christmas than by helping others? Marion County got off to a good start on that with the Marion County Toy Run, collecting toys to brighten the season for less fortunate children, and there are sure to be more events celebrating the real spirit of Christmas to come.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

BALANCING ACT:

Holiday kitchen hazards preventable

As the holiday cooking season approaches, Cherie Sage, director for Safe Kids Kansas reminds parents and caregivers to check their kitchens for preventable hazards and to supervise children at all times in the kitchen. “The most important safety precaution in the kitchen is constant, close, attentive supervision,” Sage said.

Cyclists honor friend's memory

Imagine traveling around the world on bicycles! That is what two British cyclists are doing. They traveled through Marion County last Wednesday after spending the night in a camper on Brad and Amy Pagenkopf’s farm north of Lincolnville. Matt Andrews, 26, and his friend Anthony “Ant” King, 27, of London, England, are taking a bicycle trip around the world in honor of Matt’s friend, Tony Young, who died at the age of 41 in June 2010, four or five months after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

KDHE offers winter tips

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment offers the following preparedness tips for a safer winter season and hazardous weather travel. Kansans are encouraged to prepare a winter car safety kit ahead of winter travel in the event they find themselves stranded or in an emergency.

Domke a finalist for teacher award

Judy Domke, formerly of Herington, was recently chosen as a regional finalist in the 2013 Kansas Teacher of the Year program. Domke is an interrelated resource teacher at Stanley Elementary School in Overland Park. Kerry Domke, formerly of Marion, is her husband. Domke began teaching in the Blue Valley school district in 1993. She was one of eight regional finalists. Dyane Smokorowski of Andover won the award Saturday. The Kansas State Department of Education sponsors the program to recognize excellent teaching.

Hodson and air-race team second

Tonya Hodson and copilot Nicole Lordemann placed second in a 4,000 mile cross-country Air Race Classic, an all female competition. The Hodson and Lordemann team is the first K-State team to place in the top 10 overall standings. The team was honored at the K-State football game Nov. 3 in Manhattan.

Democratic committee elects officers

Marion County Democratic Central Committee and precinct people met Nov. 13 at Big Scoop in Marion to reorganize. During the meeting, officers for two years were elected including Eileen Sieger for county chair, Howard Collett for vice chair, and Janet Bryant for secretary treasurer.

CORRESPONDENTS:

MEMORIES:

WEDDING:

MHS senior makes reading fun for children

Marion High School senior JayDee Schafers briefly thought about herself as a first grader when preparing to read to Staci Hansen’s first grade class at Marion Elementary School. She knew it would have meant a lot to her if the high schooler would have interacted with her class and tried to bring a simple children’s story alive by using a variety of voices for the characters.

FCCLA officers get leadership experience

Several members of the Marion High School chapter of Family Career and Community Leaders of America attended a national cluster meeting Friday through Sunday in Oklahoma City, Okla. Lauren McLinden, Spencer Fugitt, Megan Davies, and Dylan Goebel were challenged to explore opportunities available through FCCLA.

Trojans earn all-league honors

Nine Hillsboro High School football players earned Central Kansas League all-league football honors. They are: Jesse Brown, first-team kicker.

Warriors boast seasoned squad

The Marion High School boys’ basketball team features experienced depth as the Warriors prepare for the 2012-13 season. “Things have been going really well early on,” head coach Jeff McMillin said. “We have a lot of guys that have been in the system a while and doing a good job picking up where we left off.”

Lady Warriors have experience

The Marion High School girls’ basketball team is loaded with experience, with five players who started games last year returning for 2012-13. Erin Meierhoff, Katey Ehrlich, Megan Richmond, Kelli Hess, and Kaelyn Thierolf bring a lot of continuity back from the previous season.

Team crucial for Marion wrestlers

Marion High School head wrestling coach Chad Adkins believes his team has probably nine team members who have a good chance to go to state, five or six who can place at state, and two who he thinks can be in the running for state titles. But they won’t get there without teammates who can push them and make them better every day in practice.

Trojan boys have key components

Hillsboro High School head boys’ basketball coach Darrel Knoll said he does not like to compare a current team to past teams. Each team develops an individual personality based on its players. Knoll is looking forward to finding the right rotations and the right plays to allow his 2012-13 squad to play cohesively.

Goal stays the same for HHS girls

It felt strange to spend the first week of practice working on offense, Hillsboro High School head girls’ basketball coach Nathan Hiebert admitted. Hiebert has made some adjustments based on the personnel returning this season. The Trojans are replacing some of the traditional motion elements of the offense used last season and with an emphasis on drives and on-ball screens.

Work ethic high for HHS wrestlers

Sacrifice. Discipline. Hard work. Hillsboro High School head wrestling coach Scott O’Hare said these are the staples of most winning high school wrestlers. Every few years there will be a grappler blessed with incredible physical gifts who can win without an established work ethic … until he meets a talented wrestler with technique. The physical requirements to wrestle are immense. Wrestlers must build cardiovascular and muscle endurance. Hillsboro junior Preston Nelson can speak to the need for endurance. O’Hare said Nelson has the strength, agility, and aggressive nature suited to be a great wrestler. However, he started last season late and never caught up with his conditioning. Starting in the first week this season, O’Hare said Nelson should be ready this season for matches at either 138 or 145 pounds.

Strong defense key for Centre boys

With eight returning letter winners, the Centre High School boys’ basketball team could go far this year. The 2011-12 team finished the season with a record of 9-12. Returning starters are senior Justin Deines, a 5-foot, 10-inch guard, senior James Wyatt, a 6-1 guard and forward, and junior Grant Srajer, a 5-4 guard.

Prospects bright for CHS girls

The Centre High School girls’ basketball team lost just one starter to graduation last year, so prospects look good for another successful year. The team won 10 of its last 12 games in 2011-12, including the substate tournament, and went to the state tournament for the first time in many years.

Four seniors lead PBHS girls

With the loss of only one starter from last year’s team, the core of the Peabody-Burns High School girls’ basketball team returns to the floor for the 2012-13 season. The squad is buoyed by four seniors who have played since they were sophomores. “These four athletes provide great leadership and help to impart their knowledge on the rest of the team,” said head coach Darren Schroeder, now in his 10th season at PBHS.

Starters give PBHS boys scoring depth

The Peabody-Burns High School boys’ basketball team features five seniors and three returning starters. Having played on the varsity squad for two years, the three returning starters give the Warriors the depth to compete early in the season, even though team roles have yet to be defined. The team is hoping to improve its 5-3 Wheat State League record from last season. “Our seniors will have to step up to fill leadership roles, not only during games but at practice as well,” coach Brian Simmonds said. “We want to build on the solid season we had last year but we can only do that with discipline and hard work.”

Seniors lead, underclassmen pushing GHS girls

Three seniors, Jessica Harvey, Johanna Hoffman, and Alex Hiebert, return to lead the Goessel girls’ basketball team this year. All were starters last year, but coach Ryan Hoopes expects to also depend on underclassmen as they get stronger throughout the season. Harvey leads the team from the point guard position again this year, after scoring in double digits eight times last year. She will use her slashing drives to the bucket to generate points from close range or from the free-throw line.

GHS boys deep in key positions

With 27 players reporting to early season basketball practices, Goessel High School boys’ basketball coach Curtis Guhr is happy to see depth and experience in key positions this year. “We have four of the five starters from last year returning for the 2013 season,” he said. “These four seniors will anchor this year’s team and I have a lot of depth waiting to come off the bench.”

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