HEADLINES

  • Group to build home for wounded soldier

    The program may not be familiar to local residents but the cause is a common one. The organization, Homes for Our Troops, is planning to construct a new home in Marion for the Ryan and Carrie Newell family, but they will need help to do it.

  • Hernandez facing charges in Texas

    Rojelio “Roy” Cruz Hernandez II, who is accused in the disappearance of a Lehigh teen, has been extradited to Odessa, Texas. The 21-year-old Latino male was arrested Oct. 15 in Brown County after an Amber Alert was issued to find 17-year-old Tara Simhiser of Lehigh who was reported missing Oct. 13. She and Hernandez were found Oct. 15 in Hiawatha

  • H1N1 vaccines now available to all residents

    Free immunizations are available from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Marion County Health Department, 230 E. Main St., Marion and Kansas Department of Health and Environment are encouraging those who have not been vaccinated against the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus, to do so. The health department gave more than 160 vaccines Jan. 6, but have a sufficient supply to continue giving for some time.

  • A cold, cruel world for farmers

    Most Marion County residents didn’t want to get out of bed Thursday and Friday — not to mention go outdoors to work when the temperature was 6 degrees and there was a stiff north wind. Marcel Benda and his son William Benda, who live one mile north of Pilsen, had to brave the elements to water and feed their cattle. William said that they tried to feed their cows more food — eight bales of hay on Thursday — to help them battle the severe conditions. They work from sunrise to sunset most days of the year regardless of the weather.

  • St. Luke Hospital Auxiliary pledges $125,000 to building project

    St. Luke Hospital Auxiliary pledged $125,000 to the St. Luke Hospital and Living Center capital campaign Dec. 28. The campaign is part of a $6 million project to update the 57-year-old facility. The project will not be finalized until the hospital receives a bond rating, determining the feasibility of the improvements. Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Armstrong said he is optimistic that St. Luke will receive a rating in January, but no timeline is set.

  • Prairie View accepting applications for rental assistance

    Prairie View is now accepting applications from individuals who qualify to receive funds from the Tenant Based Rental Assistance grant. Prairie View was awarded $100,000 from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation to help people with severe mental illness afford safe and decent housing. TBRA awards are funded through the federal HOME Investment Partnership program administered by KHRC. The grant gives the opportunity of affordable housing for those at or below 50 percent median income. Prairie View’s grant is targeted at persons with severe and persistent mental illness.

  • Orthopedic specialists are setting up shop in Marion

    In the past, when local patients wanted treatment for orthodpedic injuries, they had to drive out of town. No more.

DOCKET

DEATHS

  • Helen Wiebe

    Helen Wiebe, 90, of Durham, died Jan. 9 at Moundridge Manor, Moundridge. Born Dec. 9, 1919, in Winton, Calif., to Enoch and Hannah (Koehn) Dirks, she was married March 6, 1966, to Isaac Wiebe in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

  • Marie Guhr

    Marie J. Guhr, 95, of North Newton, died Jan. 6, at Kidron Bethel Village, North Newton. Born July 17, 1914, at Hillsboro, to John and Maria (Jantz) Bartel, she was a registered nurse.

  • Robert Johnson

    Robert W. “Bobby” Johnson, 71, of Florence, died Jan. 7 at Mercy Hospital, Moundridge. Born June 20, 1938, in Querida, Colo., to Lee and Opal (Jones) Johnson, he was a retired machinist.

  • Ola Kottwitz

    Ola Frances Kottwitz, formerly of Peabody, died Monday, January 11, 2010, at the St. Luke Living Center. She was 91 years old. She was a retired nurse aid having worked at Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton and the Peabody Memorial Nursing Home.

  • Richard Simon

    Richard W. “Dick” Simon, 58, of Canton, died Jan. 8, at Memorial Hospital, McPherson. Born Feb. 12, 1951, in Wichita, to Oscar J. and Louise M. (Meyer) Simon, he was a carpenter for Boesker Construction.

  • Richard Noone

    Richard Francis Noone, 85, of Wichita, retired farmer, passed away Jan. 5, 2010. He was born June 17, 1924, in Tampa, to Patrick and Katherine Noone.

  • James LaBelle Sr.

    James Robert LaBelle Sr., 65, of Marion, died Jan. 8, at the Post Acute Center, Bel Aire. Born Nov. 20, 1944, in Fort Scott, to Paul and Katherine (Wheaton) LaBelle, he attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Fort Scott. He retired from Boeing Aircraft and owned and operated a tax and accounting business.

GOVERNMENT

  • Moran seeks summer interns

    Congressman Jerry Moran announced Monday that he is accepting applications for paid congressional internships in his Washington, D.C., and Kansas offices for the summer 2010 term. Interns working in Moran’s offices will gain a better understanding of the legislative process, develop writing and communication skills, and become better acquainted with Kansas leaders and organizations.

  • Ambulance calls for 2009 surpass 1,100

    Marion County Emergency Medical Services responded to 1,102 ambulance calls in 2009, Director Steve Smith said Monday in a meeting with Marion County Commission. The agency was on-pace for much of the year to surpass 2008’s record-setting 1,151 calls, but ambulance calls dipped beginning in October.

  • Health insurance rates increase 11 percent for city workers

    As a sign of things to come, the City of Marion’s health insurance rate for its employees will increase 11 percent in 2010. According to Blue Cross Blue Shield Representative Tim Ogelsby, the trend was common for small groups with 50 or fewer employees.

  • County can't break even on recycling

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  • Census count determines federal funding

    Responding to the U.S. Census is important because more than $400 billion of federal funds are apportioned each year based on population, Topeka Local Census Office Manager Nancee Torkelson said Thursday. Food programs, adult education, and social services are among the programs funded based on population, she said.

TAX

  • Intangibles tax return due April 15

    Marion County voters ended the countywide intangibles tax in a November 2008 election, and the change goes into effect this year. Intangibles tax is collected on gross earnings from savings accounts, stocks, bonds, accounts receivable, and mortgages, according to a mailing from Kansas Department of Revenue.

  • New IRS tax rules are a benefit for local taxpayers

    More workers and working families are eligible for the earned income tax credit. In particular, expanded benefits are now available for those with three or more qualifying children and married couples. The EITC helps taxpayers whose incomes are below certain income thresholds, which in 2009 rise to $48,279 for families with three or more qualifying children, $45,295 for those with two or more children, $40,463 for people with one child, and $18,440 for those with no children.

  • IRAs help delay tax payments

    The Internal Revenue Service is encouraging taxpayers to invest in retirement accounts by giving tax breaks to those who do. The tax bill due on retirement savings can be significantly less with individual retirement accounts or IRAs.

OPINION

  • Stop the exemption

    The 2010 Kansas Legislative session began Monday. Citizens of Marion, Butler, Clay, Cowley, Dickinson, and Washington counties need to contact their state representatives and state senators regarding one of the most important legislative sessions in recent history — an exemption from local property taxes for the Keystone/TransCanada pipeline. The construction of the pipeline is slated for 2010 and the counties in the pipeline corridor wil llose out on tax revenue of approximately $8.5 million per year for 10 years.

  • Proposed postal rate hike could affect local newspapers

    As if newspapers don’t have enough problems with keeping their doors open another year — or day, for that matter — the U.S. Postal Service now wants to penalize lightweight newspapers that fail to pass a new “droop” test. Currently, periodicals that droop less than 4 inches when tested by dangling off a flat surface are permitted to be mailed in the current standard mail category. The fewer number of pages, the more the periodical will sag or droop. If the new rule were implemented, only 3 inches of droop would be allowed.

  • Gotta love Kansas weather

    What a difference a day or a week makes. Remember this time last week? We were still digging out from snowstorms that seemed endless in temperatures that were beyond cold. Most of us tried to keep close to home, praying water pipes would hold up and the wind wouldn’t snap electrical lines and poles as it had done in the past. Basketball games were postponed in anticipation of more winter weather and dangerously frigid wind chills.

  • LETTERS:

    Moran will continue the fight
  • COLUMNS:

    Our voice in Topeka, Random Thoughts, Another Day in the Country

PEOPLE

  • Shawmar retiree saw rapid growth of oil company

    When Carol Makovec of Ramona began working for Shawmar Oil Company, Inc. 26 years ago, the business was relatively small, operating approximately 50 oil wells. Since then, it has grown to operate more than 300 wells. The stay-at-home mom for 18 years began her secretarial position on Jan. 1, 1984. She retired Dec. 31.

  • Sgt. Molly Holub and her dog, Staff Sgt. Jody, were recognized recently by the Army.

    Army Sgt. Molly Holub and her dog, Jody, were recognized for their outstanding performances as a specialized search dog team while stationed in Sykes, Iraq. Holub’s mission is to coordinate with units to ensure that the security teams and military dog teams work as one unit.

  • Love for hall of famer brings family together

    Fred Puttroff, of rural Marion, has a large collection of memorabilia commemorating the career of Kansas City Royals hall-of-fame third baseman George Brett, but his best baseball memories involve his sons — Aaron, Brandon, and Christopher. Baseball made good father-son relationships better, Puttroff said during a presentation Jan. 6 at Marion Senior Center. He showcased his collection of cards, jerseys, and posters featuring Brett. Many items in his collection were gifts from his sons.

  • Hope in the Heartland

    (Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series leading to Easter.) By LARRY TIMM Pastor of Peabody Bible Church He kicked a pebble with the toe of his sandal and started to pace back and forth, tapping his spear on the ground with each step.

  • CORRESPONDENTS:

    Burdick, Marion Senior Center, Tampa
  • MARRIAGES:

    Kelcy and Kelly Voth marry in double-ring ceremony
  • MEMORIES:

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

SCHOOL

  • Schools will switch to 7-hour schedule

    Marion High School and Middle School’s schedule will switch to seven-hour day for the 2010-11 school year. The USD 408 Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the schedule change. Marion schools are currently using a hybrid block and hourly schedule; students attend two 90-minute classes in the morning and four 50-minute classes in the afternoon. MHS principal Brenda Odgers proposed the new schedule of seven 50-minute classes per day because she said it gives teachers more flexibility and will keep the students attention span much easier.

  • Finances dominate discussion at Centre board meeting

    A list of potential actions that could be taken now by the board and school administrators to reduce expenses was reviewed Monday by USD 397 Board of Education. In addition to considering more cuts, the board also authorized the clerk to make any needed transfers from the contingency reserve to the general fund to cover possible shortfalls in funds for payroll and warrants for the remainder of the 2009-10 school year.

  • Schools battle state funding crisis

    Kansas has decided to delay payment to public schools for another month. The state has been late with payments several months last year and the scarcity of state funds has had an adverse effect on the five Marion County school districts. Over the last three years, USD 398 has taken the most drastic measures to stay economically viable. They have cut 10 days off the end of their school year, six jobs, and three bus routes, USD 398 Superintendent Rex Watson said. USD 398 also changed from a block schedule to seven classes per day. Peabody is also attempting to withdraw from the Marion County Special Education Cooperative to avoid paying approximately $168,000 to the co-op.

SPORTS

  • Warriors win close one at Lyons

    After suffering single-digit defeats to Berean Academy and Moundridge, the Marion High School Boys basketball team rallied with a 46-42 victory at Lyons. “We were tired of letting them slip away,” Marion head coach Jeff McMillin said.

  • Lady Warriors dominate Lyons

    The Marion High School girls basketball team opened up its game against Lyons on Friday at Lyons with a 20-3 first quarter effort. The Warriors won the game, 50-21. The Warriors jumped out to a quick start by submitting the Lions to constant full-court pressure. Julia Zeiner was the Warriors’ leading aggressor, using her rare blend of height and speed to create havoc at the point of Marion’s full-court press.

  • Marion girls defeat Haven, Centre teams come out on top

    The Lady Warriors came out on top Tuesday night against the Haven Wildcats, 57-47. Down 26-16 going into the half, the team went on a 10-3 run in the third quarter.

  • Wrestlers earn a split at Halstead

    The Marion High School wrestling team lost to Halstead in Halstead in their first dual on Thursday, 42-33, but defeated Hesston, 57-6 in the second. Junior Andy Shipman and freshman Evan Slater won both of their matches on the night.

  • CENTRE:

    Centre teams split wins with Elyria

MORE…

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