Marion County RECORD

Hospital raises over $500,000 for overhaul

The St. Luke Foundation kicked off a public fundraiser April 21 when it announced it had $510,944 in pledges toward remodeling St. Luke Hospital of Marion. Fundraisers unveiled a 3-foot-tall syringe representation to visualize the fundraising goal. The syringe was filled halfway with green liquid; the goal is set at $2 million.

New and old acts sure to please

Each year the Chingawassa Days Steering Committee seeks to bring new events to delight and surprise festival-goers. Coupled with activities that have become a mainstay with the festival, this year’s celebration is sure to please.

Farmers Markets cropping up all over

April showers bring May flowers, and they also herald the growing season and good fresh-from-the-garden eating. Communities across Marion County are preparing to host farmers markets this summer.

American Pickers pick local collectors for show

When the producers of the television show American Pickers contacted Bearly Makin’ It antique store owners Marion “Oggie” Ogden and Dennis Maggard of Marion about appearing on the television show, Ogden said there was no hesitation. “I thought it would be fun,” Ogden said.

Grassroots organization seeks to bring passenger rail service through county

The board of directors of the Northern Flyer Alliance, Wichita, met Saturday at the Harvey House Museum in Florence to celebrate legislation signed April 8 by Governor Mark Parkinson authorizing the state of Kansas to cooperate with Oklahoma and Texas in developing regular passenger rail service between Kansas City and Fort Worth. The organization includes members from all three states who are interested in economic development opportunities and alternative transportation sources for their communities.

Scouts learn to geocache

Geocaching allows Boy Scouts to navigate nature while enjoying the best of what technology has to offer, and it gives them a chance at a merit badge. “Geochaching is a fun event they can do throughout the United States,” Troop 102 leader Jackie Palic said. “Many (geocaches) draw you to places that you wouldn’t normally visit. One around here is a beautiful walk along the Cottonwood River and you see one of the largest cottonwood trees you’d ever see.”

Florence celebrates Spring Fling

A crowd gathered Sunday to celebrate Florence’s annual Spring Fling in the Florence gym. Kids’ games began at 3 p.m. featuring a moon walk and many other games. A favorite attraction was face painting by Melissa Swarm. Entertainment was also provided by “Little Bit” the clown. Following the meal, Jammin’ Biscuits entertained the crowd with traditional bluegrass and gospel music.

William Johnson

William J. Johnson, 95, of Hillsboro, died April 23 at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita. Born June 23, 1914, in Nolan, Mich., to Peter and Katherine (Janzen) Johnson, he was a chemistry professor at Tabor College, Hillsboro.

Vivian Ragsdale

Vivian Kate Ragsdale, 4, of Shawnee, died suddenly of pneumonia April 24, 2010, at Shawnee Mission Medical Center. Memorial services will be at 5:30 p.m. April 28 at Shawnee Presbyterian Church, 6837 Nieman Road, Shawnee KS 66203, with a visitation starting at 4:30 p.m.

William Weber

William “Kenneth” Weber, 94, of rural Burns, died April 18 at his home. Born Sept. 30, 1915, on a farm west of Burns, he was the only child of Art and Gussie (McIntosh) Weber.

Accidents

Civil division

County jail

Criminal division

Deeds records

Domestic division

Marion police report

Marriage licenses

Peabody police report

Sheriff incident reports

Traffic division

Lehigh Township clerk concerned about city fire protection

Lehigh Township Clerk Chris Jost told Marion County Commissioners Monday about his concerns regarding fire protection for the township. The city of Lehigh has a fire department, but Hillsboro Fire Department contracts with the township to provide primary fire protection. HFD does good work, but travel time slows response to fires, he said. He questioned why Lehigh Fire Department isn’t the first department called to fires when it is the closest agency.

Water and weights keeps heart bypass patient going

Merle Ecklund’s father had heart problems and died, in 1979, of a sudden heart attack at age 66. Merle knew he had to work especially hard at keeping his heart healthy. The lifelong farmer started getting regular checkups and took drugs to lower his high cholesterol. He also became a regular customer at Marion Wellness Center and walked 3 miles a day on the treadmill.

St. Luke staff seeks to set good fitness example

In an effort to help employee fitness and set a good example to the public, St. Luke Hospital began “Operation: You Can Do It” March 29. Thirty-one employees signed up to train for Run For Your Momma, a 2-mile fun run and half marathon sponsored by Mothers of Preschoolers of Marion. The races will be in August at Marion County Park and Lake.

Free dance nights now available at Willy J's

A good way to stay in shape is to go dancing. Area residents don’t have to go far to do that. Willy J’s in Marion is hosting line-dancing sessions at 7 p.m. every other Tuesday. Willy J’s is adjacent to SherBowl Lanes at 131 S. Thorp St.

Following the golden rule

My mother always told me to beware of strangers, especially in cities. “Don’t be so trusting,” she would tell me, even when I was an adult, because I was trusting — even gullible at times. I have always wanted to see the best in people, sometimes sorely disappointed.

Our Voice in Topeka

Today will find all legislators in Topeka for the final session, commonly called the veto (wrap-up) session. We currently have no budget and we’ll have only one shot at getting it right, or at least getting it done. I appreciate your support, and I will do my best to help craft as good a budget as possible, considering the hard times we’re in. I truly have no idea how the budget will play out.

Random Thoughts

Several years ago, my daughter Wanda and I were in Hawaii. We took a small plane to a small island where a friend lived. As we flew low over the Pacific, we could look down and see some huge whales leaping in and out of the water. I read in a paper recently that a huge whale had overturned a rather large fishing boat in the ocean. There were three men aboard and one of them drowned. The ocean is a dangerous place. Some years ago, a young girl was playing in the ocean near Hawaii and a shark bit off both her arms. I remember walking in the sand along the ocean and as the water rolled over my feet, the sand kept washing out as the water receded. I felt like I could go with it.

LETTERS:

Peabody 1940's celebration enters final planning stage

Members of the Peabody Main Street Association are busy wrapping up the final plans for the third annual “Operation Celebration: 1940s,” slated for Memorial Day weekend in May. “Central to the event is the fact that World War II veterans are dying at a rate of 1,000 a day,” said Main Street director Shane Marler. “We want to honor their service and remember Peabody the way it was when the young men went to Europe and the Pacific to fight.”

Peter J. Klassen to speak at MB studies annual dinner at Tabor College

Mennonite historian and scholar Peter J. Klassen will be the speaker at the annual spring dinner meeting of the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday May 8, in the Wohlgemuth Music Education Center on the campus of Tabor College. Klassen, Professor Emeritus of History at California State University, Fresno, Calif., and Chair of the Mennonite Brethren Historical Commission, will speak on the topic “The Prussian/Polish Mennonite Story.”

Katie Funk Wiebe honored at Tabor College

What does a person do to continue to find meaning and purpose in life as one grows older? For 85-year-old Katie Funk Wiebe of Wichita, sharing her life’s experiences and the insights she gained from them has become an enduring passion. She has written at least a dozen books.

Gallery will showcase paintings of former resident

Former Florence resident John Bashor will exhibit his paintings beginning Sunday through June 27 at the Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery on the Bethany College campus, Lindsborg. Bashor was born in Newton and grew up in Florence. In 1937, his family moved to Topeka. He taught art at Bethany College for 13 years.

Stress can help get the job done

Stress is part of life. However, according to a team of Kansas State University extension specialists, stress should not always be perceived as a negative. According to Research and Extension Youth Development Specialist Elaine Johannes, “Stress, generated by an approaching deadline or the need to get the grass mowed before it rains, can be a motivating factor.”

CORRESPONDENTS:

ENGAGEMENTS:

MEMORIES:

Marion and Hillsboro students get first-hand look at judicial system

Marion and Hillsboro seventh graders visited the Marion County Courtroom Monday to watch a line docket — sentencing, first appearance, status hearings, bond appearances, and probation revocation — with Eighth Judicial District Court Judge Michael Powers presiding court. “Each year we bring the seventh grade,” Marion Middle School principal Tod Gordon said. “Everyone who comes through middle school gets to see a live docket.”

Centre students receive awards

The Centre Elementary School fifth- and sixth-grade music memory team took third place in the state music memory contest April 20 at Kansas State University. Team members were Abigail Svoboda, Kristin Vinduska, Jacob Matz, James Spohn, Ally Basore, and alternate Brendan Bina.

CES spring music program is Thursday

The Centre Elementary School spring music and physical education program will be at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Centre High School gymnasium. The theme, “Going Green,” will feature kindergarten through sixth-grade vocal groups led by Gail Lorson and Lynley Remy and a fifth- and sixth-grade band directed by Remy.

Klenda, Zeiner set MHS school records

Several Marion track athletes won medals Friday at the Conrad Nightingale Invitational in Halstead and two Warriors set school records. Nick Klenda won the discus with a throw of 182 feet, 10 inches to set a Marion High School record and a meet record. He also placed third in the shot put with a distance of 44-8.5.

MHS baseball team split games

The Marion High School baseball and softball teams played Smoky Valley Tuesday in Marion. The Warrior baseball team split the doubleheader losing the first game, 12-11, and winning the second game, 10-6.

Halstead pitcher allows only 3 hits in double header

The Marion High School softball team lost both games Friday against Halstead in Halstead. The Warriorswent up against ace Halstead pitcher Aubrey Vansteenburg, who allowed only three hits in the doubleheader. The Warriors were defeated 10-0 in five innings in the first game and 2-0 in the second game.

CENTRE:

Return to current issue