Marion County RECORD

City picks clerk without consulting mayor, council

The City of Marion apparently has selected its next city clerk without allowing candidates to be interviewed by the mayor, who legally is responsible for making the appointment, or the council, which legally is responsible for ratifying it. The selection reportedly was made by a committee that includes City Administrator Roger Holter and Councilman Todd Heitschmidt, who is challenging Mayor Mary Olson in the April 1 city election.

City raises electric rates

Residents of Marion will see an increase in their electric bills beginning in May. Marion City Council members voted unanimously to increase electric rates to $8 base rate for residential and $10 base for commercial customers and to .1175 cents per kilowatt-hour, with a monthly variable cost to cover fuel costs from Kansas Power Pool. “I feel it will interfere with residents budgets and they won’t know what they’ll pay each month,” Mayor Mary Olson said, but voted in favor in order to keep the city from spending down on current electrical reserves.

Comedy may be final spring play

Marion High School will present “Dearly Beloved,” a two-act comedy about feuding sisters in the South coming together to prepare for a wedding, March 28 and 29. The comedy’s themes include gossip and the results of jumping to conclusions and holding on to the past, director Janet Killough said. She said she expected couples would find the play especially funny.

Family prepares for Wagon Wheel Express re-opening

For many months Sherry Hess and her husband, Keith, have been getting the same question repeatedly, “When are you going to be open?” Residents anxiously awaiting the re-opening of the family’s restaurant, Wagon Wheel Express, will only have to wait a few days longer until they can return to their favorite eatery. After months of remodeling, the restaurant will be open for business by the end of the week.

New officer happy to work closer to home

Despite the daily 46-mile commutes between Council Grove and Marion, officer Brandon Mitchell is happy to be a part of the Marion Police Department. “I’m really glad to be here,” said Mitchell, who began work in February. “I’m working with a group of guys that are more than willing to help out. If there’s anything you need, they won’t hesitate to go out and get it for you.”

After more than 3 years, family's wait for adoption is finally over

After more than three years of feeding, clothing, caring for and loving two little girls they raised as if they were their own, Marion parents Joe and Lesli Beery could finally breathe a sigh of relief as the uncertainty was lifted from their backs on March 12 as Maddison and Brooklyn were legally declared their daughters. The Beerys probably know better than most that milestones like this don’t just happen overnight.

MEDI approves 'welcome' sign

Marion Economic Development Inc. board members discussed designs for a welcome sign to be placed alongside U.S. 56. Board member Adam Stewart presented several variations on a design created by the Marion County Record. Board members approved a design with changes to the colors to improve its visibility on a limestone background. The sign will be made from powder-coated, die-cut steel.

Aulne road to get repairs

Three miles of road near Aulne will receive some much-needed attention soon after county commissioners purchase three tons of cold mix Monday. The stretch of road, located west of Sunflower Rd. on 140th Rd., will cost about $68 per mile/ton for treatment.

Tabor swim coach helps refine swimming technique

The new head swim coach for Tabor College, Nathan Duell, and several members of the college’s swim team are in the midst of putting on a competitive swim clinic this week at the USD 408 Sports and Aquatic Center in Marion. With a break today, the clinic started on Monday and will continue through Friday with the purpose of refining swimmers’ techniques for summer competition.

Mortgage fee phase-out could hurt before it helps

Because of the advancement of a Kansas Senate bill calling for the end of the state’s mortgage registration fee, property taxes could rise state and countywide. “If this passes, taxes are going to go up and everybody’s going to have to pay whether you get a mortgage or not,” Marion County Register of Deeds Jo Ottensmeier said. “That’s not right.”

City crews work on water lines along Eisenhower St.

Those traveling down Eisenhower St. Thursday had to find an alternate route after the road was closed for most of the day. Crews from Ewertz Excavation were running water lines that will serve the new Victory Plaza duplex addition from a hydrant on the west side of the street to tie into a waterline on the east side of the street.

Moving local election to fall an unpopular idea

New State Sen. Clark Shultz and Rep. Don Schroeder, who represents the western half of the county, answered questions Saturday morning in Hillsboro but provided few solutions. Local leaders were able to express their concerns over a proposal to move local elections from the spring to the fall, and other bills currently being discussed in the legislature.

Corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's Day

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars served 48 people and raised $551 Monday at VFW Post 6958 in Marion. “All the money is going to cancer research,” Ladies Auxiliary president Donna Kreutziger said. “We put on an event like this every year but this is the first time we have ever paired the event with St. Patrick’s Day.”

Carnegie library in Peabody to celebrate centennial with open house

Peabody Township Carnegie Library will celebrate a century of service to the Peabody community this year. To mark the occasion, the library board and staff will have several events during 2014 to encourage residents to come and see not only the historic building, but also the library’s leap into serving the community as needs and technology move ahead. The first event will be an open house from 9 a.m. to noon on April 12. The public is invited to attend and see the many technology upgrades and learn the history of the Carnegie building.

Students turn vo-tech classes into career skills

Peabody-Burns High School principal Tim Roberts said more students than ever have expressed interest in taking classes from Newton Vocational Technical School next year. “It gives the kids the opportunity to explore vocation courses we don’t have the capacity to offer,” he said.

Fishing derby awards $300 in prizes

Marion County Park and Lake had the annual John Waner Memorial Crappie Derby on Saturday at the heated fishing dock, and this year the fishing derby drew 26 entries. The derby began at 7 a.m., and it took only a minute for the first catch of the day. Jason Monteque won $50 for catching the first crappie at 7:01 a.m. Monteque also won $100 for catching the most total inches of fish at 160¾ inches.

Anthony Young

Anthony Young, 13, died March 11 in Lawrence. He was born March 12, 2000, in Kansas City, Mo., to Brad and Skye Young of Hillsboro. He is survived by his parents; a brother, Allister Young of Hillsboro; and two sisters, April Young of Lawrence, and Alyssa Young of Hillsboro.

Accidents reported

Civil division cases

County Jail arrests and bookings

Deeds recorded

Emergency dispatches

Marriage licenses issued

Offenses reported

Police incident reports

Traffic division cases

Pharmacies continue to fight unequal treatment with Medicare Part D

Dick McLinden of Marion was shocked when he went to pay for his monthly prescriptions in January and found his bill to be more than $100. Previously the co-pay for his wife’s and his 10 prescriptions was around $20 after signing up for a Medicare Part D plan in July. That was, until Jan. 1 when his policy no longer accepted Marion Health Mart as a local preferred prescription provider. McLinden said Health Mart owner Marlin Buchholz was just as shocked as he was to see the increased charges.

What to do when allergies bother you

Spring is here, and while the season brings much anticipated warmer temperatures, it also brings back allergies. For those afflicted with allergies, spring can be especially rough because of all the pollen in the air from plants budding and blooming. As bodies work to build up tolerance, there are things people can do to help ward off allergies, Dr. Paige Hatcher of St. Luke Physicians Clinic said.

Hospitals, county partner to promote wellness with countywide health fair

When the Marion County Health Fair opens March 29 at the sports and aquatic center in Marion, it will be the culmination of most of a year of preparation. Last year the county health department and St. Luke and Hillsboro Community hospitals conducted a community health needs assessment, and the No. 1 need the survey identified was more promotion of health, wellness, and chronic disease prevention, St. Luke director of nursing Jeremy Ensey said.

Massage therapist retiring after 24 years

Carolan McFarland of Marion has been a massage therapist in Marion since May 1995. She currently operates out of St. Luke Integrated Health Care Clinic and also gives massages at Dr. Kodi Panzer’s chiropractic clinic in Hillsboro. She plans to retire at the end of March. Her daughter Tracy, co-worker Carol Wituk, and Janet Herzet are planning an open house in her honor from 2 to 5 p.m. March 30 in the basement of Marion Family Physicians.

New cancer test is a 'win-win'

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and St. Luke Hospital laboratory manager Brenda Rhodes is observing that by promoting a new screening method that she says offers several advantages over the old method. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend people get a colonoscopy when they turn 50 and every 10 years after that, but the CDC also recommends an annual fecal occult blood test for people 50 or older.

Living center gets five-star rating

St. Luke Living Center in Marion was one of 3,867 nursing homes in the country to receive an overall five-star rating in January from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The agency sets and enforces standards for nursing homes enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid, which almost all are. The agency assigns a rating of one to five stars in three categories:

Blood drive is Thursday in Marion

The American Red Cross will have a blood drive from 2:15 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Eastmoor United Methodist Church in Marion. To schedule an appointment to donate, visit http://redcrossblood.org or call (800) 733-2767.

Despite the news, please have faith

Believe me, the last thing we wanted to run in this week’s paper was a story about yet more controversy on the Marion City Council. But when there is dissent about whether appropriate, legal procedures are followed, there has to be a public discussion. If it is true that an attempt has been made to bypass the mayor’s authority or make her into a rubber stamp, we have no choice but to report it. We are most concerned for the apparently well-qualified candidate involved. We know the person’s name but will not report it. Like the city officials we spoke to, we don’t want him to be caught in backlash of a city hall controversy.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

Christian Church has potato bar for St. Patrick's Day

Marion Christian Church’s Fellowship Committee had a St. Patrick’s Day potato bar lunch after Sunday church services. The committee furnished and prepared the potatoes, condiments, and drinks. Congregation members brought salads and desserts. The fellowship hall was decorated in a St. Patrick’s Day theme.

Neo-Century hears about container gardens

Neo-Century Club met March 10 at Hilltop Manor. Pat Oller and Bea Kelsey were hostesses for the meeting. Jana Dalke, owner of Serenity Gardens, gave a program with ideas for container gardens and plant care.

Marion couple engaged

Rachel Christine Thurston and Colton Dean Olson, both of Marion, are engaged to be married in June. The bride-elect is a 2010 home-school graduate and a youth sponsor at Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church, rural Hillsboro. She works at Marion City Library. Brent and Heidi Thurston of Marion are her parents.

Entries being accepted for congressional arts competition

Entries are being accepted for the 2014 congressional arts competition. All high school students in the First Congressional District are eligible to enter. Winning artwork will be displayed at the Capitol building for a year.

Seminary dean will speak at Tabor

Terry L. Brensinger, vice president and dean of the Biblical seminary and professor of pastoral ministry at Fresno Pacific University, will speak on Tabor College’s Hillsboro campus Monday and Tuesday. He will give several presentations during his two days on campus:

Kiwanians to help set up for blood drive

Marion Kiwanis Club will help set up for a Red Cross blood drive Thursday. Setup will be over the lunch hour, and the blood drive will begin later in the afternoon. The club received a “thank-you” letter from Janet Bryant for Kiwanis’ donation to the Marion County Emergency Food Bank and for giving her time to speak about the food bank.

Department on Aging offering fall prevention classes

Marion County Department on Aging will teach two fall prevention classes from April through May — “Matter of Balance” and “Stepping On.” Both classes aim to help those afraid of falling, who feel unsafe walking on uneven surfaces, or that have difficulty climbing stairs and getting up safely from the floor.

Tabor-Wichita to have business seminar

Tabor College Wichita campus will have a Chamber of Commerce Business Builder Series seminar from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Friday at 7843 W. 21st St. N., Suite 117. The seminar is for business people who want to experience more employee engagement in the workplace. It will also discuss how to maximize employee talents and strengths, increase employee engagement, and how to accelerate team building and collaboration.

Marion alumnus returns to sing

Colorado Christian University freshman and Marion alumnus Isaac Baldwin will perform along with more than 50 other members of the university choir at 7:30 p.m. March 26 in the performing arts center on the home stretch of the ensemble’s 10-day tour through Texas, Arkansas, and Kansas. The concert is sponsored by the Marion Ministerial Alliance and is free to the public. It will feature a wide variety of music — from Renaissance to contemporary and jazz — and will highlight many facets of the group’s vocal talents.

Club raising awareness about human trafficking

Tabor College Social Work Club will be raising awareness to end human trafficking the week of April 4 through 12 through different campus events. Events

A music concert at 7 p.m. April 4 at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church featuring The Afters and Kyle Sherman. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at http://www.ilivelove.org.

Kevin Austin with the Set Free Movement will speak in the chapel at 11 and 11:40 a.m. April 8.

A human trafficking awareness panel will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. at the chapel in the H.W. Lohrenz building.

Annie Schomaker and Ginger Coakley with the Set Free Movement will speak in the chapel at 11 and 11:40 a.m. April 10.

A 5K walk/run and biking race will be April 12. The biking race begins at 8 a.m. and the foot race begins at 8:45 a.m. at the Wholgemuth Music Education Center parking lot. To register visit http://tinyurl.com/m8h6na6.

Larry Hatteberg to speak at dinner

KAKE-TV anchorman Larry Hatteberg will speak at Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum’s 2014 heritage dinner at 6:30 p.m. April 4 at Tabor Mennonite Church. Burgundy roast beef, scalloped potatoes, green beans with almonds, and dessert will be served in the church’s fellowship hall. To reserve tickets, call the museum at (620) 367-8200 by March 31. Museum office hours are from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

MARION SENIOR CENTER:

MEMORIES:

Marion Middle School students perform in talent show

A number of exited Marion Middle school students performed a series of acts Friday at USD 408 Performing Arts Center during the third annual talent show. Principal Missy Stubenhofer said the purpose of the event was for students to have simply have fun the day before spring break began.

Victory remains just out of reach for Centre girls

The Centre girls’ basketball team was defeated by Osborne 50-41 Thursday in the first round of the 1A Division 1 state tournament at Emporia. It was a disappointing loss for the four seniors on the team — Makenzie Deines, Any Makovec, Cacey Simons, and Bryanna Svoboda — who were playing at state for the third consecutive year. The team trailed by three or four points numerous times throughout the game but the girls were never able to tie the score or go ahead. They forced many turnovers and had numerous steals but were not able to capitalize on them at the offensive end.

Centre benefit golf tournament is April 26

Centre High School will sponsor a benefit golf tournament April 26 at Herington Country Club golf course. It is a fundraiser for the sophomore class with proceeds going toward its junior prom. The four-person scramble will begin at 9 a.m.

Centre players on all-league teams

Centre High School is well represented on the Wheat State League all-league basketball teams, with four girls and one boy selected. Ty Simons was named to the boys’ first team. Shelby Makovec and Cacey Simons were named to the girls’ first team, and Makenzie Deines and Alicen Meysing were named to the girls’ honorable mention.

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