Marion County RECORD

Suspected shooter leaves Marion police

While an investigation into a June 20 officer-involved shooting in Lehigh is still weeks away from completion, the Marion officer believed to have fired the fatal shot has left the department. Local law enforcement officials and Kansas Bureau of Investigation have repeatedly refused to identify the officer who shot Robb Stewart, 50, who was reported by Sheriff Rob Craft to be drunk, armed with a pistol, and suicidal.

Council decides how many chickens equal one duck

Allowing ducks in Marion city limits could require getting one’s ducks in a row for an equation. Under a draft ordinance presented to the city council Monday, ducks would be allowed, but with a limit.

Hope for a heifer: One month later, still on the loose

A 4-Her from Abilene is still hopeful her missing show heifer is going to show up alive and well thanks to the Marion County support she and her grandfather Ben Freeman have received. Lauren Freeman, 15, took her 4-H show heifer, Rosslend, to the Mike Ehrlich farm north of Marion for a hoof trimming July 28, but Rosslend spooked and ran away.

Sprinkler damage leads to right-of-way debate

The county will pay the bill for a property owner whose lawn irrigation system that encroached on county property was damaged by a road maintainer. Road and bridge supervisor Jesse Hamm presented a bill to commissioners for a $38 sprinkler head from Gerald Jost.

Volunteers paint 'M' for 20th anniversary

The big concrete M overlooking Marion’s athletic facilities received a makeover Thursday evening for its 20th anniversary, a day before the Warriors’ football scrimmage. Marlin Buchholz, Roger Hannaford, Andy Hansen, Jeremiah Lange, and Alex Case applied a fresh coat of white paint to the concrete letter etched into a hill.

Merry Maids mix up leads to clean house, burglary report

A Hillsboro resident in the 200 block of S. Washington St. who thought her home was being burglarized got something better than a broken-in house. She got a freshly-cleaned one. The resident called Hillsboro Police to report a burglary that was in progress, and when officers arrived, they did not find a suspect, but rather a home-cleaning service that was accidentally cleaning the wrong house.

Stone loses officer certification

A former Marion police officer who resigned early this month after it became known that his past disqualified him as a law enforcement officer in Kansas had his certification officially revoked Tuesday. Mike Stone was notified by letter dated Aug. 9 that his certification was revoked by Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training.

Fire chiefs want county reserves for radio

Now that word is out of a possible $16 million cash in county coffers, the first group asking for a piece of the pie — county fire districts — popped up at Monday’s commission meeting. Lincolnville fire chief Les Kaiser joined two other chiefs to ask for a portion of the reserves to pay for new 800 MHz radios.

Burn resolution proposal gets public airing

A proposed burn resolution backed by county fire chiefs will be touched up before county commissioners take it up for a vote. Landowners voiced concerns at a Friday night meeting at Marion County Lake Hall.

Safehope agency takes one step closer

Help after domestic violence and sexual assault will soon be closer for county residents. A domestic violence agency based in Newton but long serving this county is leasing an office at 422 E. Main, Marion. Safehope provides advocacy services for victims immediately after police are summoned.

Kevin Gresham

A private family service will be held for greyhound trainer and breeder Kevin Joel Gresham, 62, Durham, who died Thursday at Hillsboro Community Hospital. He was born March 27, 1955, to Chester and Helen (Kennedy) Gresham in Emporia. He married Javonni Sparlin on May 31, 1974, at Maize. He owned and operated Gresham’s Greyhound Farm.

IN MEMORIAM:

Accidents reported

Civil division cases

Criminal division cases

County jail bookings

Deeds recorded

Emergency dispatches

Marriage licenses granted

Offenses reported

Police incident reports

Traffic division cases

DELINQUENT TAXES:

Labor filled with love: A bakers' edition

In the wee hours of the morning when most county residents are fast asleep, sisters Emma Lee and Catie Zurcher are baking away in FamLee Bakery in Marion. Zurcher arrives at midnight to begin the prep work and the baking continues as Lee’s alarm buzzes at 5 a.m. to arrive by 6 a.m.

Spencers named Labor Day grand marshals

Longtime Florence native Carolyn Spencer remembers watching the Florence Labor Day parade each year with family and friends, and she never once thought that maybe one day she, too, would be grand marshal. “No, no, no,” Spencer, 73, said. “I never expected it.”

Service to others a passion for Burdick grand marshals

After spending a lifetime in service to others, Burdick native Bill Peterson and his wife, Judy, of Herington have been selected as grand marshals for the Burdick Labor Day parade. Pastor Bill, as he was known by many, retired July 1 after serving Good Neighbor Parish for 10 years. The parish was formed in 2007 to include Hebron Lutheran Church at Burdick, where he was baptized and confirmed, and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Herington.

A delicate unveiling

A little over two months ago, Robb Stewart lost his life in an officer-involved shooting in Lehigh. Law enforcement officials haven’t officially identified the officer who fired the shot, and neither have we, even though we were confident from our sources that we knew who he was.

Chris-crossed

As the county’s economic development task force went about its work, eventually coming up with Marion County Community Economic Development Corporation, one of the more endearing aspects of the process was then-chairman Chris Hernandez’s unabashed idealism. The task force and corporation would be free from politics, he said, because everyone was represented at the table. Consensus would trump ages-old rivalries and self-interest. There would be no politics when people understood that development anywhere in the county benefited everyone in the county. Hernandez was a true believer.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

Coop changes but employee remains steadfast

Lincolnville elevator manager Perry Gutsch has seen several changes in the cooperative’s associations, but he has remained steady at the helm for 32 years. Since taking over in 1985, he has kept the business flowing smoothly from one year to the next. Over the years, Gutsch has kept a steady hand as the elevator changed from being part of Tampa Cooperative Association to Agri Producers Coop in 1993, to Agri Trails Coop in 2016, and his career isn’t finished.

Masons bring cancer screenings to Art in the Park

Finding out early if someone has signs of cancer can make all the difference in beating the disease. Members of Centre Masonic Lodge #147 at Marion have arranged free cancer screenings Sept. 16 during Art in the Park.

Foster families get new online resources

Current and prospective foster parents have new online resources available through the Kansas Department for Children and Families. New features include a calendar of foster care events such as trainings, support groups, and appreciation events. Other new features include foster parent and former youth-in-care blogs. The resources can be found at fosterkskids.org

Foster families get new online resources

Upcoming reunions

Riding in the Old Settlers’ Day parade, dinner, and an after party are on tap for the 25th reunion of Marion High School Class of 1992 on Sept. 30. Classmates will gather at 10:30 a.m. on Walnut St. to board the class float for the 11 a.m. parade.

SENIOR CENTER:

MEMORIES:

Hill school has bats in belfry

The new school year has brought new students to the Hill Building — 500 bats. Marion-Florence superintendent Aaron Homburg told the board of education Monday that the bats invaded the attic and bell tower over the summer.

Marion volleyball wins Peabody tournament

Pushed but victorious in three pool play matches, the Marion High Lady Warriors kicked into high gear in semifinal and final matches Saturday to win the Peabody-Burns volleyball tournament. In the final against Solomon, Marion was seriously challenged just once in the second game, as the Lady Gorillas put together a streak to trail 13-12, prompting coach Brea Campbell to call a time out.

SCHOOL MENUS:

Lifelong Learning sessions to begin Friday

Collecting, preserving, and interpreting museum treasures will be the first topic of Tabor College’s Lifelong Learning Sessions that begin Friday. Hillsboro museum director Steve Fast will lead the session at 9:45 a.m. Friday at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church.

Calendar of events

Other events: 5 p.m. — Hillsboro Arts and Crafts Association meeting, Hillsboro Chamber office.

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