Marion County RECORD

HEADLINES

Masked intruders shatter couple's morning
A Ramona couple’s idyllic vision of small-town retirement imploded Thursday morning when three masked men broke through the front door of their small home and demanded money. James Miner, 60, said he was asleep on a couch and his wife, Kathryne, 57, was still in bed when they were awakened by the sound of three men clad in similar dark clothing, with their faces concealed by ski masks or bandanas, forcing their way through the front door.
Lalouette urged to resign
In an unprecedented rebuke, commissioners Randy Dallke and Dan Holub publicly called Tuesday for fellow commissioner Lori Lalouette to resign. Their impassioned pleas at Tuesday’s commission meeting later joined in by commissioner-elect Dianne Novak, came four days after Lalouette left a Friday meeting without explanation — the latest in a series of absences, late arrivals and early departures, by the first-term commissioner, who represents western Marion County.
How a recall might happen
To force a recall election for a county commissioner, a committee of three registered voters within the commissioner’s district must apply to the county clerk. The county attorney then verifies that the grounds for recall — in this case, failure to perform duties as prescribed by law — are legally sufficient.
Indoor fly-ins for radio-controlled planes planned
Radio-controlled aircraft enthusiasts will get an opportunity to escape winter weather and fly their crafts inside at Marion Elementary School gymnasium later this month. With the closest indoor flying opportunities half an hour away, Lin Slifer discussed the idea of an indoor flying event in Marion with fellow flyers Todd Winter and Terry Chizek.
Hidden contraband makes inmate ill
A county jail inmate landed in the hospital overnight Thursday after apparently taking extraordinary measures to conceal something from officers. “She had inserted or ingested some contraband prior to coming into the facility,” Sheriff Robert Craft said. “Some incidents caused one female to have a medical issue that concerned us, so as a precaution we sought medical help.”
Illegal parking leads to arrests
Parking on the wrong side of the street alerted Marion police to what may have been an illegal drinking party early in the morning on New Year’s Eve. Kodi Goodpasture, a 22-year-old Atchison man, was arrested on suspicion of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and furnishing alcohol to a minor. A girl younger than 18 also was arrested and transported to juvenile intake.
A nose for fires...
Sifting through charred remains of burned structure or vehicle has been largely a solo pursuit for state fire investigator Chris Mercer of Marion, but now he has a furry, four-footed partner to assist him. Mercer recently returned from a six-week stay at a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives facility in Virginia with Bingo, a 17-month-old Labrador and golden retriever mix trained to detect substances that start fires.
...and a perfect nose for drugs
The crime-fighting duo of Marion police officer Mike Stone and his canine partner Legion, realized a rare accomplishment in 2016. “Last year, we had 35 canine deployments and 35 arrests,” Stone said as he held up a folder about two inches thick. “That’s a 100 percent arrest/deployment ratio. It was more luck than anything, but it was a busy year.”

OTHER HEADLINES

$94,000 in property stolen or damaged
At least one, maybe more, thieves amassed a $94,000 tab of stolen and damaged property Dec. 27 at the home of Merle and Michelle Flaming near Lehigh. “That’s easy to do when you start with a $65,000 Ford pickup,” sheriff Rob Craft said. “They took a 2007 trailer with the truck and damaged Merle’s motorcycle [a Harley Trike] in the process.”
Trash sets hayshed ablaze for 8 hours
What began as a rubbish fire spread to grass and quickly to a hay barn last week, consuming 80 or more bales of hay and occupying Marion and Hillsboro firefighters for eight hours. Hillsboro fire chief Ben Steketee was first on the scene Dec. 28 at a shed near the home of Brad and Jane Wiens on Kanza Rd. near 160th Rd. Steketee said roughly 100 square bales were in the shed, but at least a dozen were saved from the blaze.
Afterward: free pizza for firefighters
With the holiday season come random acts of kindness, but Hillsboro Pizza Hut manager Angela Williams makes heart-warming gestures throughout the year. Williams donates leftover pizza from the restaurant to Marion County sheriff’s deputies and Hillsboro firefighters, most recently while firefighters were spending nine hours battling a hayshed fire last week.
City promises to cooperate on Straub
Promising to cooperate “to get it done right the first time,” city officials met with county commissioners last week to discuss how the county can seek zoning approval to purchase the former Straub International building in Marion. The building isn’t zoned for government use, but commissioners will attempt to acquire a conditional use permit as a workaround.
City workers to get dental
Marion City Council will offer Blue Cross Blue Shield dental insurance to all city employees at 20 percent of its cost. Although total cost to the city was not discussed during Tuesday’s meeting, it will be partially offset by a three percent decrease in the city’s insurance cost.

GOVERNMENT

County gives employees $150 bonuses
Each county employee who worked at least 500 hours during 2016 will receive a $150 year-end bonus, costing the county a total of $24,450. A total of 163 employees will get bonuses. Among them are 50 from Emergency Medical Services. In the past, EMS employees did not receive annual bonuses.
Outgoing commissioner gets a fitting send-off
Commissioner Dan Holub received a hilarious send-off at his final meeting Tuesday. Holub wanted nothing done for his departure, so clerk Tina Spencer kept him in the dark until she brought in a gift bag at the end of the meeting. Surrounded by several county employees, Holub laughed heartily as he read the tags explaining each gift:
Plastic dog poop was to remind him of what he’s had to put up with over the past 12 years.
Rockets were to help him blast off to a new direction.
A calendar was to plan a vacation.
A fake cigar was to enjoy with scotch and water next to a campfire.
Dominoes were to take to senior coffee meetings.
A raincoat came with a tag that said he could wear it in or out of the shower.
A metal sculpture of a windmill scene was hidden in the bottom of the gift bag.

DEATHS

Richard Deatrick
Richard A. Deatrick, 83, Herington, died Saturday at Herington Municipal Hospital. Born Oct. 8, 1933, to Kenneth I. and Rayda F. (Kanitz) Deatrick in Winfield.
Alta Savage
Alta Mae Savage, 93, died Dec. 25 at Marion Assisted Living Center. Born March 24, 1923, to Samuel and Florence (Piper) Robinson in Florence, she received a bachelor’s degree, taught school for several years, and married Loyd Savage on February 24, 1950.
Darrell Weigart
Former mechanic Darrell Weigart, 89, died Monday at St. Luke Living Center in Marion. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Marion. Inurnment will be in Marion Cemetery.
CORRECTION AND CLARIFICATION:
Esther Stucky
IN MEMORIAM:
Cheryl Steward
IN MEMORIAM:
Betty Sebree

DOCKET

FINANCE

Students find ways to cope with college cost
With rising tuition, college students are looking for ways to raise money to afford books, gas, and even food.
Few changes in tax rules likely
Few changes on 2016 tax forms are likely, area tax preparers say. Tax preparer Melody Freeman of Meier Tax Service said refunds involving education and earned income credits will arrive more slowly because the Internal Revenue Service will verify information first.

OPINION

2017, resolved
The best New Year’s resolution I ever made, and kept, was when I resolved never to make another New Year’s resolution for myself. With an admittedly spotty track record of accomplishment before then, that single resolution forever lifted the burden of trying to live up to impossible promises. What will be, will be. Then again, all those resolutions were personal. Lose weight, exercise more, save money; all the standards, all flops.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
Being sociable in any medium
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
Is enough, enough?

PEOPLE

Hett family celebrates Christmas
Jackie Hett was hostess for her family’s Christmas celebration Dec. 30 at a Wichita motel. Guests included Travis and Kelley Schafers, JayDee, Emily, and Trevor, Jeff and Laura Ensey, Zeke and Elizabeth, Jeremy and Tammy Ensey, Peyton, Paige, and Abree, and Melanie and Larry Ensey, all of Marion.
Card shower planned for Hensley
A card shower is planned for longtime Tampa resident Evelyn Hensley’s 98th birthday Jan. 22. Greetings may be mailed to 716 N. Tweed St, Apt 314, Winfield KS 67156. She moved to Winfield in 2003 to be near her daughters.
Richmonds visit family in county
Rick Richmond and Ben of Austin, Texas, spent Christmas week with his parents, Jim and Violet Richmond; sister Jamie; Bill Shirley, Katie and Kyle Perry of Andover; Torey Hett and Chelsi Winforne of Pratt; and McKenzee Lea Remmers of Salina. They had a Christmas dinner Dec. 27. Rodney and Diane Richmond entertained Rick and Ben and Jim and Violet Richmond with a dinner Dec. 29. Randy and Ramona Richmond spent time with Rick and Ben and Jim and Violet on Sunday afternoon.
MEMORIES:
10, 25, 35, 50, 60, 100, 125 years ago
SENIOR CENTER:
Senior Center suggests a resolution, Senior menu

SCHOOL

Area school menus

UPCOMING EVENTS

Calendar of events
Democrats to meet
Marion County Democrats will meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the Santa Fe Room of Marion City Library.
Study of Revelation to begin
Marion County Community Bible study will begin studying the seven churches in Revelation at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 19 in the Hearth Room of Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, 300 Prairie Point. Pastor David Jeremiah will lead services.
Hillsboro chamber to meet
Reservations are due Thursday for Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce’s annual breakfast meeting at 7 a.m. Tuesday in the East Room of Hillsboro City Building. Cost of the meal, which will include breakfast casserole and cinnamon rolls, is $5. Reservations are being accepted at (620) 947-3506.

Marion County RECORD

Marion City Council will offer Blue Cross Blue Shield dental insurance to all city employees at 20 percent of its cost. Although total cost to the city was not discussed during Tuesday’s meeting, it will be partially offset by a three percent decrease in the city’s insurance cost.

Each county employee who worked at least 500 hours during 2016 will receive a $150 year-end bonus, costing the county a total of $24,450. A total of 163 employees will get bonuses. Among them are 50 from Emergency Medical Services. In the past, EMS employees did not receive annual bonuses.

Richard A. Deatrick, 83, Herington, died Saturday at Herington Municipal Hospital. Born Oct. 8, 1933, to Kenneth I. and Rayda F. (Kanitz) Deatrick in Winfield.

Alta Mae Savage, 93, died Dec. 25 at Marion Assisted Living Center. Born March 24, 1923, to Samuel and Florence (Piper) Robinson in Florence, she received a bachelor’s degree, taught school for several years, and married Loyd Savage on February 24, 1950.

Former mechanic Darrell Weigart, 89, died Monday at St. Luke Living Center in Marion. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Marion. Inurnment will be in Marion Cemetery.

CORRECTION AND CLARIFICATION:

IN MEMORIAM:

IN MEMORIAM:

With rising tuition, college students are looking for ways to raise money to afford books, gas, and even food.

Few changes on 2016 tax forms are likely, area tax preparers say. Tax preparer Melody Freeman of Meier Tax Service said refunds involving education and earned income credits will arrive more slowly because the Internal Revenue Service will verify information first.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

Jackie Hett was hostess for her family’s Christmas celebration Dec. 30 at a Wichita motel. Guests included Travis and Kelley Schafers, JayDee, Emily, and Trevor, Jeff and Laura Ensey, Zeke and Elizabeth, Jeremy and Tammy Ensey, Peyton, Paige, and Abree, and Melanie and Larry Ensey, all of Marion.

A card shower is planned for longtime Tampa resident Evelyn Hensley’s 98th birthday Jan. 22. Greetings may be mailed to 716 N. Tweed St, Apt 314, Winfield KS 67156. She moved to Winfield in 2003 to be near her daughters.

MEMORIES:

SENIOR CENTER:

Marion County Democrats will meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the Santa Fe Room of Marion City Library.

Marion County Community Bible study will begin studying the seven churches in Revelation at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 19 in the Hearth Room of Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, 300 Prairie Point. Pastor David Jeremiah will lead services.

Reservations are due Thursday for Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce’s annual breakfast meeting at 7 a.m. Tuesday in the East Room of Hillsboro City Building. Cost of the meal, which will include breakfast casserole and cinnamon rolls, is $5. Reservations are being accepted at (620) 947-3506.