HEADLINES

  • Palic wins MHS's 1st state wrestling title

    In 16 years, the Marion High School wrestling program has had its share of accomplishments, but it had never crowned a state champion. Until Saturday.

  • A mayoral scolding

    Marion Mayor Todd Heitschmidt sharply criticized the owner of dilapidated property on Arbor St. at Monday’s city council meeting, raising his voice at one point and apologizing to the council afterward. Bradford Harrington’s two uninhabitable houses at 432 Arbor St. have been in the city’s crosshairs since the council threatened to condemn the property earlier this year. Instead, the council Feb. 2 gave Harrington time to line up a buyer for the property, which sits near the town’s west entrance along Main St.

  • Newspapers win 23 state awards

    Hoch Publishing Company, publisher of the Marion County Record, Hillsboro Star-Journal, and Peabody Gazette-Bulletin, has won 23 awards in the Kansas Press Association 2014 Awards of Excellence. “I’m particularly pleased to win first place for news and writing excellence,” news editor David Colburn said. “In addition to weekly newspapers, we were up against ‘daily’ papers from much larger towns that now publish four times a week or less, such as Atchison, El Dorado, Augusta, and Junction City. This is a team award, and it’s good to know we’re on the right track in giving our readers high-quality coverage of our county.”

  • 'Prom-posals' packed with creativity

    Jacob Baldwin borrowed an old ring box from his mother, placed a plastic ring inside, and during the Marion Winter Formal Dance, he cleared the dance floor and asked the DJ to stop the music. Then he got down on one knee, presented the gift to his date, Bailey Robson, and asked her to be his date to prom. “People call them ‘prom-posals,’” Baldwin said. “I kind of took that literally.”

  • Centre superintendent resigns amid 2nd year

    In a special meeting Monday, the Centre board of education accepted the resignation, effective July 1, of Centre superintendent and principal Brian Smith. He is in his second year at Centre. Smith has accepted the position of superintendent at Fredonia Unified School District.

  • Fire destroys mobile home, kills pets

    David and Kimberly Nunn lost most of their belongings when the mobile home they lived in at 814 W. 8th St., Lot G caught fire in the early morning hours Sunday. The Nunns were not home when the fire broke out. Their two dogs were in their kennels inside the mobile home and died in the fire.

  • County ultimatum leads to shake-up at Tampa EMS

    Jesse Brunner is out, and Ron Mueller is in as Tampa EMS crew chief in the wake of a demand by county commissioners Friday for new leadership. Commission Chairman Dan Holub issued the edict for change after a 35-minute executive session with County EMS Director Brandi McCarty, EMS Board Chairman Gene Winkler, and Commissioners Randy Dallke and Lori Lalouette.

OTHER HEADLINES

  • Charity auction slated for Sunday

    Generous-hearted deal seekers might want to caravan out to the Pilsen Community Center on Sunday for the 12th annual Holy Family Parish charity auction. Sam Oborny, one event organizer, said there is a plethora of interesting items for sale, and the funds will go to local charities and individuals.

  • Downtown roof project completed in Peabody

    For anyone in search of a kiddie pool, Shane Marler has an excess supply. The former economic development director for Peabody used them to catch water let in by leaks in the ceilings of the Baker buildings downtown. Thanks to the completion of a multi-year roofing project for the historic section of Main St., he has no further need of them. The ceilings — and thus the buildings themselves — are secure.

  • Peabody Care Center under new management

    Mission Health Communities of Tampa, Florida assumed the management and operation of Peabody Care Center as of Friday. “The ownership of the buildings has not changed,” PCC Administrator Melissa Parmley said. “Deseret, which has managed the property for four years, is no longer the managing company. Management and operation has shifted to Mission Health Communities.”

  • Calendar of Events

DEATHS

  • Luella Bartel

    Luella (Schmidt) Bartel, 93, of McPherson, died Feb. 25, 2015, at Bethesda Home, Goessel. She was a homemaker. Luella was born Dec. 3, 1921, to Herman and Susie (Unruh) Schmidt in Hillsboro. She graduated from Hillsboro High School. She married Harrison F. Bartel on Sept. 13, 1946, in Hillsboro.

  • Weldon 'Leo' Blackman

    Weldon ‘Leo’ Blackman, 75, of Marion, died Monday. A funeral service is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Marion Christian Church.

  • D. Eugene Enos

    Former school principal and administrator D. Eugene Enos, 84, Marion, died Sunday at St. Luke Hospital. He was born Oct. 18, 1930, to Virgil and Mary (Ballantyne) Enos at Hope. He completed his master’s degree at Emporia State University. He married Phyllis Soule on Aug. 9, 1953.

  • Joyce Hamburger

    Retired nurse’s assistant Joyce Hamburger, 77, died Feb. 23 in El Dorado. A funeral service is 3 p.m. Friday at Aulne United Methodist Church, with a luncheon following. There will be no graveside service.

  • Tom McLinden

    Former city police officer and county road and bridge worker Thomas S. McLinden, 61, died Feb. 24 at his residence. He was born May 25, 1953, in Marion to Cecil and Stephania (Maloun) McLinden.

  • IN MEMORIAM:

    Norman Mueller, Hubert Piland III, Marvin L. Watkins

DOCKET

FINANCE

  • Prom finances depend on choice of accessories

    With prom around the corner, students and families figure the special event will cost anywhere from $150-$600, or more. It’s no surprise the cost is substantially less for guys. Marion senior Brad Stone rented a tuxedo for the first time last year to attend Future Business Leaders of America awards ceremony, and he knows the tux plus flowers will cost about $150.

  • Rent-to-own housing is tricky trend, experts say

    Tenants looking for rent-to-own agreements are creating a growing trend in the rental market, but experts caution that such contracts contain pitfalls that can surprise both the landowner and renter. “I’ve been at this 37 years and I have not seen many ever work,” said Hillsboro Mayor Delores Dalke, a longtime real estate broker.

OPINION

  • When no means yes

    Did you build or remodel a home or business in Marion County in the past 10 years, but didn’t apply for a property tax rebate through the county’s neighborhood revitalization program? Good news — it might not be too late to cash in. You thought you missed your chance because of this program rule from page 4 of the county’s application packet, reproduced exactly as it appears: “An application for a rebate must be filed within 60 days of the issuance of a building permit. Applications for rehabilitations or additions must be received and approved prior to the commencement of the construction. NO EXCEPTIONS.” Those underlined capitals scared you away, didn’t they? Silly you.

  • ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

    A very, very, very, bad day
  • LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

    Marion, a great get-away

PEOPLE

  • Palette of Dreams goes mobile

    While many local area activities were canceled Saturday due to weather, about 30 women from Marion County and beyond made their way over snow-covered roads to attend a Palette of Dreams painting party at the senior center in Tampa. For two hours, they visited, laughed, and ate snacks as they painted decorative crosses on furnished palettes or on items they brought, such as cream cans, windows, and boards.

  • County Democrats assemble

    Marion County Democratic Women met Feb. 20 at Marion Senior Center during which Ann Zimmerman’s performance was well received and Janet Bryant shared “Hillary: The Coloring Book.” Following a meal, President Sue Clough conducted a business meeting and Connie Fisher gave closing devotions from the book “God’s Heart for You.”

  • Triple T's hold annual potluck

    The Tampa Triple T’s met on the afternoon of Feb. 8 for their annual potluck meeting. Afterward officers’ parents led a short meeting, in which Club Day was discussed. Karl Riffel presented on how to set up a livestock judging notebook.

  • MARION SENIOR CENTER:

    Seniors enjoy birthday treats
  • MEMORIES:

    10, 25, 35, 50, 60, 100, 125 years ago

SCHOOL

  • JoJo the therapy dog goes to work at Centre

    Students at Centre schools are used to seeing a big black standard poodle walking the hallways with its owner, science teacher Cindy Riedel. “Of course, the little ones love him, but the big kids love him, too,” Riedel said.

  • Happy Hustlers bustle for books

    Starting this month, book lovers young and old can swap out their old reads for new favorites, and have a group of youngsters to thank for the opportunity to do so. The Happy Hustlers 4-H club is organizing a monthly book swap program that allows readers to keep some variety in their libraries by bringing in gently used books and swapping them out with other ones.

  • Happy Hustlers meet, discuss upcoming events, plans

    The February meeting of the Happy Hustlers 4-H club was called to order on Feb. 2. Flag salute was led by Phinneas. The 4-H pledge was led by Luke. Roll call was your favorite way to spend a snow day. Roll call was answered by 14 members, four leaders, five parents, and no guests.

  • USD 408 to screen new kindergartners

    Marion Elementary School will have a screening for children who will be in kindergarten next year. Children must be 5 years old by Aug. 31.

  • MES to hold "Camp Read-A-Lot"

    Families of students at Marion Elementary School can pack the family tent — or at least read the assembly instructions — in preparation for “Camp Read-A-Lot,” a family reading program set to take place 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the elementary school. Registration for the event will be 20 minutes before it begins, and will be in the school’s gymnasium.

SPORTS

  • 6th at state, best finish in team's history

    In a grand sigh of relief, the Warriors did it. They achieved a milestone not only for USD 408, but also for themselves. With Kyle Palic as this year’s state champion and Adam Janzen placing fourth, Marion wrestlers wrote a new chapter in Marion High School’s history as the team took sixth place with 59 total points Saturday at the 3-2-1A State tournament in Hays.

  • Marion girls bow out in 1st round of substate

    The Marion High School girls’ basketball team wrapped up its season Monday with a 72-41 loss at Lyons in the first round of the substate tournament. The Warriors were the No. 7 seed in their bracket, while the Lions, ranked No. 8 in class 3A, were the No. 2 seed. The loss brought Marion’s record on the season to 6-15.

  • Centre boys end season with Pretty Prairie loss

    The Centre boys’ basketball team couldn’t overcome a slow start Tuesday against Pretty Prairie, losing 65-44 at the substate tournament in Rosalia. The Cougars played catch-up from the outset, as they were outscored 14-3 in the first quarter. Dylan Deines, Jared Barney, and Cole Srajer got Centre back on track, with the teams playing even through the second and third quarters.

  • Cougars ended regular season with a victory

    In a final home game Friday, the three seniors — Jared Barney, Justin Bina, and Dakota Stimpson — were happy to conclude their basketball careers at Centre with a 61-42 victory over Blue Valley-Randolph. It was their third win of the season. Stimpson said it was frustrating at some points in the season, especially when they lost by 2 or 3 points, but the upperclassmen saw it as rebuilding for the future.

  • Centre girls finish regular season ranked 8th in state

    The Centre Lady Cougars are ranked eighth in 1A Division I after the final regular season state basketball rankings came out. Centre finished second in the Wheat State League with a record of 6-1, behind undefeated Goessel. After a 64-53 victory Friday at home against Blue Valley-Randolph, Centre’s overall record was 17-3, the same as in 2013-2014.

MORE…

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