35 years ago

march 5, 1980

Timothy L. Newfield, 19, convicted slayer of Peabody banker Grant Avery, was sentenced to life imprisonment for aggravated kidnapping Friday morning in Marion County District Court.

Lucille Britain, present Marion city clerk who has announced her resignation from that position, has filed by petition on the Democrat ticket for the office of county commissioner. She is a candidate for the position now held by Ed Broz, whose term expires in January.

John F. Wiebe, superintendent of Unified School District 408, is the subject of this week’s Personality Profile.

Two students from Marion have been listed on the honor roll for the fall semester at the University of Kansas. They are James E. Hoch, son of Mrs. Wharton Hoch, and Carol Colburn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Colburn.

Mrs. Albert Richardson, one of Marion’s best known and highly regarded senior citizens, died Feb. 19.

Ten years ago this week, the Marion County Courthouse and other parts of Marion nearly blew away during a tornado that hit the town late at night. Residents responded, climbing out of bed to board up broken windows and help neighbors. Slate from the courthouse roof was scattered across the Valley and North Hill portion of town, in the path of the storm.