Marion County RECORD

Roadside memorials help parents endure lost teens

It has been almost six years since Lisa Hanschu lost her 19-year-old son James Weber in a two-vehicle accident that shook Marion County. Weber and his 18-year-old friend, Jeremiah Stang, both died because of injuries they sustained at 340th and Nighthawk Rds.

Rainfall causes complications, benefits wheat

Rainfall averages of 2-3 inches across the county have soaked fields and roads and swelled lakes, ponds, and streams, with more rain predicted this week. In less than 24-hours, the South Cottonwood River level near Florence rose almost 20-feet cresting at 23.06 feet as of 11 a.m. Sunday, which was 1.06 feet above the flood stage.

Woman who beat cancer to wed Saturday

A month after being declared cancer-free for a full year, Julie Crayton and her fiancé Kelly Shaft will start a new life together Saturday. On that day, in Florence, the Masonic Advance Lodge 114 will be offering free cancer screenings. She encouraged people to attend.

TC's rhino statue stolen

As Chingawassa Days draw nigh and the Rhino Capital of Kansas prepares for its annual festival, Theresa Carroll searches for her stolen rhinoceros. “His name is ‘Lucky’ and he looks like a drunken Irishman,” Carroll, owner of TC’s What Not Shop, said. “I just hope he’s not face down in a ditch somewhere.

Florence ambulance gets $15,000 donation

Primary ambulances will be restored to Florence and Marion within about 60 days, thanks in part to an anonymous donor willing to fund repairs to the Florence unit. Emergency Management Services Director Brandy McCarty has been shuffling emergency vehicles around since the engine in the Florence unit developed a crack. Marion’s backup unit was sent to Florence, but recalled last week when Marion’s primary ambulance went down with the same engine problem.

Return of the rolling beds

Awakened from a year of slumber, the Chingawassa Days Bed Races are back by popular demand. Davey Hett, longtime Chinga planning committee member, said everyone on the committee wanted to see it return after last year’s absence.

Chingawassa Days opening acts revealed

With Chingawassa Days a couple weeks away, the Chingawassa Committee unveiled the opening acts for Friday and Saturday’s headliners, Hells Bells and Casey Donahew Band. Road 23, a Christian band, will be performing Friday evening to open for Hells Bells, an AC/DC cover band. Singer-songwriter Pete Gile will open for Casey Donahew Band on Saturday.

Sinkhole discovered in Marion

A large sinkhole recently caused Marion officials to close a portion of Commercial St. south of town between Forest St. and the dike that surrounds town. Streets Superintendent

Organization could fold

Members of the Ladies Auxiliary VFW No. 6958 will vote to disband or continue their charter during their regular monthly meeting June 9. Officers said they would appreciate hearing from as many members as possible as to the fate of the group.

Summer lunch program begins this week

The Marion summer lunch program will begin Monday and continue every week day through July 31. Students from kindergarten through high school can have a free lunch every day, and can have a free swim at the Sports and Aquatic Center once a week. Snacks will also be available at the Sports and Aquatic Center at 3 p.m. each day.

Jesse Hudgens

World War II Navy veteran Jesse R. Hudgens, 93, died Saturday at Wichita. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Marion Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Zeiner Funeral Home. Hudgens was born Feb. 15, 1922, in Carrollton, Missouri, to Jesse and Thelma Oliver Hudgens. He grew up in Arkansas City and married Sarah Swan on Nov. 1, 1951, at Bentonville, Arkansas. She died in 1992. An infant grandson also preceded him in death.

Dorothy Magee

Former Marion resident Dorothy Magee, widow of former Marion physician Charles Magee, died Sunday in Canon City, Colorado. She is survived by her children, JoAnn Berry of Penrose, Colorado, Jim Magee of Monument, Colorado, and David Magee of Guffey, Colorado.

Victoria Melcher

Retired farm wife and homemaker Victoria “Vicki” Melcher, 95, died Sunday at St. Luke Living Center. Born Feb. 4, 1920, to Charles and Agnes (Konarik) Klenda, she was raised in Pilsen and on Feb. 21, 1938, married Emil Melcher, who preceded her in death in 1973. Sisters Josephine and Ruth Kroupa also preceded her in death.

Pete Peters

Hillsboro native Pete Peters, 86, died Friday at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro. He was born Aug. 3, 1928, to Herbert and Anna (Neufeld) Peters in Hillsboro. He married Joanne Rash Jan. 28, 1956, at Newton.

Janice Schmidt

Former flight attendant and Goessel native Janice Kay Schmidt, 64, died Feb. 25, in Excelsior, Minnesota. A memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Tabor Mennonite Church. Burial of ashes will be at Alexanderwohl Cemetery.

IN MEMORIAM:

Accidents reported

Civil division

County jail

Criminal division

Deeds recorded

Emergency dispatches

Marriage licenses

Offenses reported

Police reports

Mother of 3 fits in fitness

Kids are great, but most parents know they take a surplus of energy to raise. It can be easy for parents to let their own health slip in favor of providing their children the attention they deserve. Stay-at-home mom Brea Hett, 24, of Marion, has found a way to exercise almost every day while caring for her three young boys.She involves them.

Health trends shape grocery stocks

Ask 10 people what “health foods” are and you’re likely to get 10 different answers, as consumers are flooded with information about nutrition, often conflicting, everywhere they turn. Marion County grocers say the balance of foods they stock has shifted in recent years toward healthier items, a combined effect of changing eating patterns and industry modifications.

Students show great heart for child in need

Every mother’s nightmare is hearing that something is not right with her child. For Ashley Adams of Haysville, those words were a mouthful — critical congenital heart defects. Congenital heart defects can be something as simple as a weak heart murmur. However, Adams’ son Brillyn was diagnosed with nine serious and dangerous defects that left his family stunned.

Doctor's journey leads from Arabian palace to Marion

Marion residents may not think they have much in common with King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia. A checkup with new St. Luke physician Tim McVay would be one piece of common ground. McVay talks about his yearlong stint in the Middle East’s largest country as though he had worked in Newton, not some 7,500 miles across the world, acting as physician to the crown prince. Since McVay left Saudi Arabia, the crown prince has become the king.

Panel 24W Line 081

I fought the Vietnam War in the mid 1960s from Marion, with little green plastic soldiers in a back yard on Hudson St., and with toy guns and knives along the wooded, brushy banks of Mud Creek behind our Elm St. home. My friends and I possessed the tactical genius to win every battle in minutes, our only wounds inflicted by poison ivy, and we always made it home in time for dinner. Well, almost always. The news in 1969, when I was 11, that one of our own, 22-year-old Army Corporal Robert Boese of Marion, had been killed in action in South Vietnam, brought an abrupt end to the “fun” of playing war. The news literally hit close to home, as he’d married one of the Lentz sisters, who lived just a half a block away in the house where my dad grew up. Two of her sisters were regular playmates in our neighborhood games. I remember standing in the front yard looking toward that house, after hearing the news, feeling more awkward than anything else. It was a feeling that lingered a long time.

Calendar of Events

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

Card shower requested

The children of Ron and Dora (Duerksen) Unruh of Durham are requesting a card shower to celebrate their parents’ 60th wedding anniversary June 1. Their four children and their families plan to celebrate the anniversary with various family events.

Bride honored at shower

A wedding shower for Kayla (Nordquist) Gandy was Sunday at Marion Christian Church. Guests were the bride’s mother, Marion resident Jana Nordquist, grandmother of the bride Karen Nordquist of Waterville, and ladies of the church.

Club installs officers

The 20th Century Club met May 4 at the home of Gayle Thomas. Thomas, Carol Laue, and Shirley Jo Hett were co-hostesses. They prepared finger foods for members to enjoy outside. A list of volunteers was distributed for the Lunch Bunch program, which the club will volunteer to staff June 22 through 26.

Teaching kids to read was retiring teacher's pride and joy

Carol Hanschu has spent her entire teaching career at Centre Elementary School. She is retiring after 40 years. She has experienced many changes throughout her time working in the district.

BIRTHS:

MARION SENIOR CENTER:

MEMBORIES:

Mowrer farm provides $21,000 in scholarships

Income from the district-owned Mowrer farm west of Lost Springs provided $21,000 in scholarships to Centre High School seniors this year. Clara Mowrer donated the farm to the district 20 years ago for “a perpetual scholarship fund” after the death of her husband, Loren. Four seniors received $800 each the first year.

Centre FFA members receive awards

At least 125 students and guests attended the annual Centre FFA banquet May 13. Chapter officers conducted the meeting. Chapter proficiency awards were presented to Tyler Bentz, agricultural services; Greg Oborny, beef production placement; Kristin Vinduska, oil crop production and turf grass management; Cassidy Hill, sheep production and small animal care; and Bryce Naerebout, vegetable production.

Honor Society welcomes new members

National Honor Society members were inducted and 2015-16 officers installed at the Centre High School activities banquet May 12. Carissa Shields, Whitney Gutsch, and Dylan Deines were welcomed as new members. The new officers are Abigail Svoboda, president; Allison Basore, vice president; Carissa Shields, secretary; Kristin Vinduska, treasurer; and Dylan Deines, student council representative.

Centre Cadettes complete grant

The Centre Cadette Girl Scouts, ages 11 to 14, recently completed a Blue Cross-Blue Shield Healthy Habits for Life $1,000 grant. The cadettes — Samantha Engler, Alyssa Espinoza, Samantha Espinoza, and Emily Silhan — gave a backpack to each student in kindergarten through sixth grade to take on field trips in April and May. The backpack included a bottle of water, a fruit snack, and whole-grain cookies.

Baseball rides pitching to 2nd round of regionals

Without question, head coach Roger Schroeder said, it was Dylan Pippin’s best performance of the season. It could not have come at a better time. Pippin’s complete game performance led the Warriors to a 4-2 first round win over Central Heights.

Marion boys win league meet on new track

It didn’t take long to christen the new track at Warrior Stadium with a league title. The Marion boys’ track and field team were hoisting a Heart of America League title less than 24 hours after the final touches were put on the ring Warriors track hopes to call home for many years to come. Marion finished with 106 team points, enough to beat second-place Berean by 11 points.

Softball season ends in upset loss

When the sun went down, so did the Warriors. After building a 7-1 lead, Marion saw Hesston first claw its way back into the game, then seize a commanding 11-run cushion of its own in a regional first round game Monday night.

Centre girls' relay team continues to break records

The Centre girls 4x800 relay team of Lotti Benning, Nellie Kassebaum, Callie Riffel, and Shelby Makovec took first place Thursday in the Wheat State League tournament at Goessel. Their 10 minutes, 59.36 seconds finish broke the league meet record set by Wakefield in 2011. Whitney Gutsch finished first in shot put with a throw of 30 feet, 2 inches. Second-place finishers were Cassidy Hill in discus; Brenna Shields in the 100, 400, and long jump; and Summer Espinoza in shot put.

Engler headed to state golf meet

After earning a sixth-place medal May 11 at the Heart of the Plains golf meet in Hesston, Centre’s only varsity golf player, Nathaniel Engler, placed fifth Monday in the regional meet at Hesston. He scored a 112. Eric Embers of Central Christian had the best finish at the event with a score of 100.

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