Marion County RECORD

HEADLINES

City tells county shoppers, businesses to 'keep it local'
Within days of the announcement that Wal-Mart would be building a Neighborhood Market store in Hillsboro, Marion Economic Development Director Terry Jones had launched a “Keep It Local Marion” social media page. Jones was very clear, however, that the timing of the group’s creation was not indicative of its cause.
Commission to spiff up courthouse
A bent flagpole, an unwieldy trek for handicap visitors, a parking lot entrance that scrapes vehicles, two-tone pink walls with fading paint — the Marion county courthouse has seen better days. At its end-of-the-month meeting Tuesday, the county commission took steps to remedy some of the building’s ailments.
Old Settlers' Day slideshow
Louisiana man fulfills OSD lonesome-dove promise
Spectators at Saturday’s Old Settlers’ Day parade in Marion may or may not have recognized a 1950 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Dale Johnson of Marion. Originally a metallic blue, the truck was an entry in many Old Settlers’ Day parades. This time, it was hunter green.
Over 100 show for 5k benefit for Janzens
In an event that typically sees “two or three dozen” participants, a charitable cause prompted an outpouring of more than 100 runners to Marion County Lake for a 5k on the morning of Old Settlers’ Day. Steve Janzen will head to Dallas in a week to continue treatment for his stage IV pancreatic cancer. Janzen was accepted into a clinical trial Monday and will spend a week there receiving treatment.
Marion asks for access to clear drainage jam
When it rains, it pours, and the overgrown, debris-clogged drainage basin east of the Country Inn Motel that runs behind Eastmoor Addition can’t adequately handle the flow. And the city can’t do anything about it, city administrator Roger Holter told Marion city council Monday, because there is no easement to allow access behind nine residences along the east side of the basin.

DEATHS

Georgie Ann Schmidt
Georgie Ann Schmidt, 82, died Friday at Asbury Park in Newton. She was born Dec. 18, 1931, at Hillsboro to John LW and Marie (Ewert) Regier. A graveside service was to be held Tuesday at Prairie Lawn Cemetery at Peabody. Baker Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Willard Olson
On Monday, Sept. 22, 2014, Willard Webster Olson passed away peacefully at his home in Paradise Valley, Arizona, at age 75. He was born Sept. 16, 1939, to Webster and Frances Olson in El Dorado, Kansas.
Mary Ann Wiens
Mary Ann (Bartel) Wiens, 84, of Marion passed away Sept. 26, in her home surrounded by her family. She was born Jan. 13, 1930, to Ben and Elma (Funk) Bartel.

DOCKET

OPINION

Was this Old Settlers' Day the best ever?
You know the familiar line about what’s certain in life — death and taxes. For life in Marion, there’s another item to add to the list, the annual declaration in the Marion County Record that, in one way or another, the most recent Old Settlers’ Day was “the best ever.”
Keeping it local isn't simple
This newspaper has long championed the cause of encouraging local citizens to shop at local businesses. It’s a message and a practice we believe in, and we’ll continue to preach it, as well as support it by giving local businesses cost-effective advertising options that target the local shoppers they want. We’re pleased to see a new initiative, “Keep it Local Marion,” taking off, spearheaded by Marion economic development director Terry Jones. Other rural cities and counties with organized “shop at home” programs have had success in keeping and growing their customer bases, and a focused program here is long overdue. While Jones assures us, and we believe, that the program isn’t “anti-Wal-Mart,” there’s little question the big box giant’s upcoming entry into the local market has motivated county businesses and economic developers to re-double their efforts to retain local market shares.
A DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
Not Much of a Naturalist

PEOPLE

Life Chain will be Sunday at US-56 and Canada Road
Marion County Kansans for Life is sponsoring a Life Chain event from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday at US-56 and Canada Road. A similar event will be held in almost 70 other communities in Kansas. The local event has taken place annually for many years. People of all faiths participate, holding signs with pro-life messages. Some signs offer help for girls and women with unwanted pregnancies. Some suggest adoption as “the loving option.”
CROP Hunger Walk will be Sunday at lake
Walkers of all shapes and strides can join forces to fight hunger by taking part in the CROP Hunger Walk at 2 p.m. Sunday at Marion County Park and Lake. Following a devotional, participants will walk around the lake to support people in need.
Democratic Women meet
Marion County Democratic Women met for lunch Sept. 26 at Marion Senior Center. Neysha Eberhard provided tickets to the Harvey County Democrats’ ham and bean supper Oct. 11.
County democrats elect officers
Marion County Democrats elected officers at Sept. 22 reorganizational meeting at Marion City Library. Officers will serve a two-year term. Eileen Sieger was elected county chair, vice-chair is Howard Collett, and secretary-treasurer is Janet Bryant.
MARION SENIOR CENTER:
Seniors attend Sunflower Fair
MEMORIES:
10, 25, 35, 50, 60, 100, 125 years ago

SCHOOL

MHS students partake in day of community service
Marion High School students had a day off from schoolwork Thursday to better the community around them. “We have no schoolwork today, so I’m fine with it,” freshman Jessi Lewman said Thursday.
Marion-Florence FFA to sponsor tailgate supper
The Marion-Florence FFA chapter is sponsoring a tailgate supper at Warriors stadium on Friday. All proceeds from the supper will be donated to Marion Community Christmas and to Steve & Phoebe Janzen. A traditional tailgate meal will be served with a hamburger, chips, drink and a cookie. Members will begin serving at 5:30p.m.
Marion pool reopens
Swimmers and water buffs resumed their normally scheduled pool activities on Saturday when the Aquatics Center reopened after being closed for several weeks after a lightning strike caused a pump to fail. The closure allowed for several sections of the pool to be repainted as well.

SENIOR LIVING

Crafty Goessel artisan enjoys variety in works
The shelves of Lavida Schroeder’s large workshop at her home in Goessel are full of paints, craft magazines, three-ring binders, unfinished ceramics, and tools she uses to create unique pieces of art. She and her husband, Dennis, grew up in the Goessel community and have lived in the same house in Goessel since their marriage 56 years ago.
Former engineer builds models from scratch
Navy veteran and longtime model builder Chester Brown absolutely adores all things aircraft. He loves researching intricacies of different designs, but simply reading about and looking at pictures was never enough. Brown was compelled to tinker with and realize aircraft designs using scale models.
Marion Assisted Living celebrates 10 years
Doris Ewert can think of only one staff member who’s been at Marion Assisted Living as long as she has. While the staff has changed, the service has remained the same. “All I have to do is pull a cord and they’re here to see what the trouble is and how they can help,” Ewert said.

SPORTS

Warriors lose to Ell-Saline
As losses go, this one will be easier than most for Marion to put behind it. “We’re starting a new season now,” head coach Grant Thierolf said after his Warriors lost 22-12 to the Ell-Saline Cardinals.
Lady Warriors hold serve at home
It sounded like senior Julia Hall was bluffing. “We’ve got this!” she yelled to her teammates, who echoed her support in the timeout huddle. Marion was down 9-20 in the first set against visiting Moundridge, and head coach Brady Hudson needed to get his team settled and loosened up.
Cougars lose to Heat 60-14
Friday proved to be another lousy night for the Centre Cougars, as they lost to Rural Vista at White City, 60-14. Cougars fans were optimistic at first, when Centre answered a Vista touchdown with one touchdown of its own. Dylan Deines caught a 10-yard pass from Dakota Stimpson for the score, and Stimpson ran for the conversion to tie the game.
Centre runners place high at Marion
The future of cross-country at Centre schools looks bright, as three junior high students finished in the top five Thursday at Marion’s invitational meet. Jordan Smith, an eighth-grade girl, placed second, with a time of 13 minutes, 1 second. Ryan August, an eighth-grade boy, placed fourth at 13:57. Taylor Smith, a sixth-grade boy, finished fifth with a time of 7:28.
Centre volleyball goes 3-2 on week
Centre swept a triangular Sept. 23 at Wakefield by defeating Peabody, 25-12 and 25-11 and Wakefield, 25-16 and 25-19. The results at Saturday’s Herington invitational weren’t as good. Centre was eliminated after finishing 1-2 in pool play.

Marion County RECORD

Spectators at Saturday’s Old Settlers’ Day parade in Marion may or may not have recognized a 1950 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Dale Johnson of Marion. Originally a metallic blue, the truck was an entry in many Old Settlers’ Day parades. This time, it was hunter green.

Georgie Ann Schmidt, 82, died Friday at Asbury Park in Newton. She was born Dec. 18, 1931, at Hillsboro to John LW and Marie (Ewert) Regier. A graveside service was to be held Tuesday at Prairie Lawn Cemetery at Peabody. Baker Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

On Monday, Sept. 22, 2014, Willard Webster Olson passed away peacefully at his home in Paradise Valley, Arizona, at age 75. He was born Sept. 16, 1939, to Webster and Frances Olson in El Dorado, Kansas.

Mary Ann (Bartel) Wiens, 84, of Marion passed away Sept. 26, in her home surrounded by her family. She was born Jan. 13, 1930, to Ben and Elma (Funk) Bartel.

You know the familiar line about what’s certain in life — death and taxes. For life in Marion, there’s another item to add to the list, the annual declaration in the Marion County Record that, in one way or another, the most recent Old Settlers’ Day was “the best ever.”

A DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

Walkers of all shapes and strides can join forces to fight hunger by taking part in the CROP Hunger Walk at 2 p.m. Sunday at Marion County Park and Lake. Following a devotional, participants will walk around the lake to support people in need.

Marion County Democratic Women met for lunch Sept. 26 at Marion Senior Center. Neysha Eberhard provided tickets to the Harvey County Democrats’ ham and bean supper Oct. 11.

Marion County Democrats elected officers at Sept. 22 reorganizational meeting at Marion City Library. Officers will serve a two-year term. Eileen Sieger was elected county chair, vice-chair is Howard Collett, and secretary-treasurer is Janet Bryant.

MARION SENIOR CENTER:

MEMORIES:

Marion High School students had a day off from schoolwork Thursday to better the community around them. “We have no schoolwork today, so I’m fine with it,” freshman Jessi Lewman said Thursday.

Swimmers and water buffs resumed their normally scheduled pool activities on Saturday when the Aquatics Center reopened after being closed for several weeks after a lightning strike caused a pump to fail. The closure allowed for several sections of the pool to be repainted as well.

Navy veteran and longtime model builder Chester Brown absolutely adores all things aircraft. He loves researching intricacies of different designs, but simply reading about and looking at pictures was never enough. Brown was compelled to tinker with and realize aircraft designs using scale models.

Doris Ewert can think of only one staff member who’s been at Marion Assisted Living as long as she has. While the staff has changed, the service has remained the same. “All I have to do is pull a cord and they’re here to see what the trouble is and how they can help,” Ewert said.

As losses go, this one will be easier than most for Marion to put behind it. “We’re starting a new season now,” head coach Grant Thierolf said after his Warriors lost 22-12 to the Ell-Saline Cardinals.

It sounded like senior Julia Hall was bluffing. “We’ve got this!” she yelled to her teammates, who echoed her support in the timeout huddle. Marion was down 9-20 in the first set against visiting Moundridge, and head coach Brady Hudson needed to get his team settled and loosened up.

Centre swept a triangular Sept. 23 at Wakefield by defeating Peabody, 25-12 and 25-11 and Wakefield, 25-16 and 25-19. The results at Saturday’s Herington invitational weren’t as good. Centre was eliminated after finishing 1-2 in pool play.