Marion County RECORD

Cottonwood River, Mud Creek have water quality issues

Water quality is something most people don’t care about until it directly affects them. By that time, it may be too late to change the inevitable. About a dozen Marion County residents attended a meeting Thursday to discuss water pollution issues.

Fire destroys historic Peabody barn

Peabody firefighters were called out Saturday morning to battle a blaze in the “old McKercher” barn behind Duke and Beth Eldridge’s residence at 311 N. Maple St., Peabody. The Eldridge family moved to Marion before school started and the residence was unoccupied. The barn was used for storage.

Nursing homes squeezed by state Medicaid cuts

A 10 percent cut in state Medicaid funding will cost nursing homes in Kansas’ 70th District $1 million in 2010, Rep. Bob Brookens said Sunday at a community meeting in Goessel. The majority of that loss will be in Marion County. Medicaid is funded by a combination of state and federal money. In Kansas, 30 percent of the funding comes from the state and 70 percent from federal, Bethesda Home CEO Linda Peters said Sunday. For every dollar by which Kansas reduces Medicaid spending, care providers lose $2.31 of federal money.

Florence concerned: Pipeline trucks may wreck streets

TransCanada officials met with Florence City Council Monday to discuss transporting pipe from the railway stop in Florence through the city. TransCanada’s plan is to drive 12 trucks up to 50 round trips a day on the city’s Main Street to get to U.S. 77. The trucks will carry three pieces of pipe with a maximum weight of 80,000 pounds. Officials said that negotiating the trucks around the roundabout will be their biggest problem because the trucks will be 95 feet long.

A day in the life ...Nursing is more than a job

According to Joyce Ford, a licensed practical nurse at St. Luke Living Center, Marion, caring for residents goes beyond just providing for their medical needs. She sees herself as part of a team that strives to make residents feel at home. “I work for them,” she said. “This is their home and they should do what they want. I think it is an honor to take care of someone who is placed in the nursing home. I try to treat them as if they were my mom or dad.”

Cute pet contest will benefit preschool

As in other beauty contests, contestants in the County Seat event have “moms and dads” who think they are the cutest “kids” in town. However, their floppy ears, shaggy coats, and four legs make them unusual.

Winter tomatoes are windfall for gardener

When Tracy Hett put two tomato plants in his Trace of Copper storefront in Marion, he was only trying to keep the plants alive until spring. He never expected the plants to yield a steady supply of fresh produce, but that is exactly what they did. The plants began in 2009 as “volunteer plants” — plants that germinated from seeds dropped by other plants in his garden in Galva.

Wayne Britton

R. Wayne Britton, 69, of Goessel, died Jan. 30 at Newton Medical Center. Born Jan. 18, 1941, in Cedar Point to Jesse Allen and Mary Jane (Branson) Britton, he was married Jan. 18, 1986, to Barbara J. Wettestad in Goessel.

Jeanetta Hanschu

Jeanetta L. Hanschu, 64, of Ramona, died Saturday at her home. Born Aug. 8, 1945, in Herington to Fred E. and Marguerite E. (Bayes) Utech, she was married Aug. 23, 1964, to Alex Junior Hanschu.

Kermit Dirksen

Kermit E. Dirksen, 76, Marion, died unexpectedly Feb. 2. He was a construction technician for PKHLS Architecture of El Dorado and Newton.

Gladys Watkins

Gladys Leona Watkins, 91, of Marion, died Jan. 28, 2010, in her home. She was born May 31, 1918, to Walter E. and Mabel K. Lott of Bennington.

Accidents

Civil division

County jail

Criminal division

Deeds records

Domestic division

Hillsboro police report

Peabody police report

Small claims

Traffic division

Attorney general warns of debt collection scam

Attorney General Steve Six is cautioning Kansas consumers about telephone calls from apparent fake debt collectors who are impersonating law enforcement officers in an effort to extort money from consumers. Consumers are warned to not submit payments to these fraudulent debt collectors. When calling, the scammers most often state they are attempting to collect a debt related to an Internet payday loan obtained by the consumer, but which the consumer never repaid. Consumers state they have never obtained such a loan or paid off the loan years ago.

Pipeline contract is on the table

Marion County Attorney Susan Robson presented a contract proposal Friday to county commissioners that would allow TransCanada’s Keystone Pipeline to pass through the county. TransCanada representative Tommy Darnell also received a copy of the contract proposal. He said he would give the proposal to the company’s attorneys to review.

County departments will share worker

Marion County Commissioners directed Department on Aging Director Gayla Ratzlaff to work with Noxious Weed Department Director Rollin Schmidt to share employee Lanell Hett between the departments. Commissioners made the decision Friday after meeting with Ratzlaff in closed session for 20 minutes.

Police present rape evidence to attorney

The Hillsboro Police Department has presented evidence to Marion County Attorney Susan Robson from a rape that allegedly occurred Dec. 8, 2008, Hillsboro Police Chief Dan Kinning said. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation processed and returned DNA evidence in the case to Hillsboro police, prompting the presentation.

Are we the white and black terrier?

For the past several days, I have been watching a small, white and black terrier dog run up and down South Third Street in Marion. He doesn’t have a collar and is scared to death of people. I know the Marion Police Department has attempted to capture the dog — for his own sake — but has not been successful.

Our voice in Topeka

While matters of budget are primary in our considerations this year, we have other issues at hand. We will likely vote on a repeal of the death penalty and I’d like to hear your thoughts. I have heard from quite a few of you, and I appreciate your conviction in contacting me way before the issue comes to a head. It has helped me formulate my thoughts, as well as this column. You may know the arguments for and against.

COLUMNS:

Family finds dog alive after fire

When their Lehigh home burned Jan. 21, Rick and Gina Mounts were heartbroken by the loss of their puppy, Bruiser. When the couple returned to what was left of their burned home Jan. 22 to meet with an insurance agent, they called for their cat that should have escaped the fire.

Wounded warrior adjusts to homelife

U.S. Army Sgt. Ryan Newell won’t be stopped from doing anything. The young family man was the only survivor of an attack Jan. 7, 2008, in Afghanistan during his third tour of duty in the Middle East.

Hope in the Heartland

(Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a series leading to Easter.) By LARRY TIMM Pastor of Peabody Bible Church Bewilderment swept through the soldier’s mind and he shook his head. He stared at Jesus and tried to make sense of several conflicting thoughts.

ENGAGEMENTS:

WEDDINGS:

CORRESPONDENTS:

MEMORIES:

Stranded in the front of the class

Sometimes the students who are left behind are the ones who seem to be the furthest ahead. “You have so much pressure on assessment,” gifted practitioner Sherri Sells said. “These are the kids who just get it.”

Warriors lose to Collegiate in Tuesday night action

Marion High School Warriors teams struggled Tuesday night against 3A powerhouse Wichita Collegiate. The boys lost, 81-36, despite a valiant effort by Isaac Hett who scored 12 points.

MMS girls finish season

The Marion Middle School girls A team lost in the first round of the MCAA tournament to Hesston, 32-14. Katey Ehrlich was the leading scorer for the Wildcats with six points.

MHS girls lock down on defense

The Marion High School girls basketball team is in the midst of a 10-2 season because of its effort at the defensive end of the floor. Since the new year, the Warriors have relied on their man-to-man defense to get them back into games. Marion defeated Hesston in the third-place game of the Hillsboro Trojan tournament by holding the Swathers to six points in the third quarter.

CENTRE:

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