Marion County RECORD

Rumors slow probe of flag desecration

What some feared could turn into a violent confrontation has been canceled, but public anger churned by on online campaign over flag desecration at a Peabody cemetery is delaying investigation of the case, Sheriff Rob Craft said Monday. Craft told the county commission that citizens his officers have been interviewing since the desecration Memorial Day weekend at Prairie Lawn Cemetery have become uncooperative because of fear of public anger generated by the online campaign.

County lake, Eastshore get zoning districts

Marion County Commission approved zoning districts Monday for Marion County Park and Lake and Eastshore development. The districts will allow the county to regulate zoning issues for those areas separately from other unincorporated communities in the county.

Error in books causes headaches

Auditors have found bookkeeping errors that caused the City of Marion to have budget violations, but no money is missing. Invoices totaling $160,000 received in December 2009 were posted in January, and money to pay them was taken from the 2010 budget. The money should have been taken from the 2009 budget or the 2009 funds should have been encumbered by the council.

Owners of blighted lots, beware

Property owners with overgrown weeds, dilapidated fences and buildings, and junk in their yards are on notice. Marion City Council reviewed 10 properties Monday evening that may be required to be cleaned up.

Temporary bridge washes downstream

After 5-to-6 inches of rainfall June 13, five pieces of a temporary wooden bridge used by Sheehan Pipeline Construction landed in a wooded area southwest of Marion, owned by Harry Bennett. Sheehan contractor Jim Lovell said that the pieces weigh more than 1,000 pounds each and are 4 feet wide, 14 feet long, and a foot thick. They were used to drive bulldozers and backhoes over Spring Branch Creek on land owned by Ladd and Lucy Helmer in the pipeline right-of-way. Six-inch pipe buried 4-to-5-feet deep anchored the bridge, but flooding yanked posts out of the ground.

Prisoner in process of extradition

Stacey Deines, 35, of Florence, arrested by Marion County Sheriff’s Officers Thursday, is still in Marion County Jail waiting to be extradited to Oklahoma. Deines was arrested after he allegedlypicked up a 16-year-old girl 350 miles away in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma in the middle of the night Thursday. The girl is reported to be safe back with her parents in Oklahoma.

Big dreams for downtown Peabody

Tony Krsnich is the real deal. In the short time he has been in the development business, the entrepreneur has been part of numerous renovation projects with 10 currently in the works.

Lydia Batt

Lydia Batt, 98, died June 20 at St. Luke Living Center, Marion. Born March 19, 1912, in Canada, to J.H. and Christina (Hopp) Schimpf, she was a homemaker and seamstress. She also worked at Heinz Jewelry.

W.O. Blair

W.O. Blair, 85, of Herington, died June 20 at Geary Community Hospital, Junction City. Born May 30, 1925, in Dillon to Harry F. and Lana E. (Mosley) Blair, he served as a pharmacist’s mate third class with the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Raymond Combs

Raymond L. “Meatball” Combs, 82, of Herington, died June 17 Herington Municipal Hospital. Born on March 5, 1928, in McFarland to Thomas W. and Mae (Mullins) Combs, he was a Herington High School graduate.

Ruby Graumann

Ruby L. Graumann, 93, of Hillsboro, died June 17 at Parkside Homes, Hillsboro. Born Oct. 18, 1916, in Buhler to Herman and Sara (Eitzen)Funk, she was married June 21, 1942, to Robert Graumann in rural Hillsboro.

Myron Hatfield

Former Florence resident Myron Lynn Hatfield, 54, of Wichita, died at his home of natural causes June 19. Born Dec. 11, 1955, in Leavenworth to Myron and Mary (Day) Hatfield, he was a retired electrician.

Raymond Meyer

Raymond L. Meyer, 75, of Wichita and formerly of Strong City, died June 17 at Via Christi Medical Center-St. Francis Campus, Wichita. Born May 20, 1935, in Council Grove, to Henry and Alice (Carson) Meyer, he graduated from Chase County High School.

Accidents

Civil division

County jail

Criminal division

Deeds recorded

Domestic division

Marriage licenses

Police and sheriff

Small claims

Developers hammer out bylaws

Marion County Economic Development Council met June 16 in Goessel with Goessel City Clerk and council secretary Anita Goertzen calling the meeting to order — a task previously held by County Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman. At the May 19 meeting, with the blessing of Marion County Commission, Huffman had resigned from the council, leaving the council without a chairman.

Check-valve needed for e-mail

Have you ever said something you wish you could take back? We all have. We apologize and hope time will heal hurt feelings.

Camping out with fond memories

This past weekend, my entire family came to Marion to celebrate Father’s Day with a camping trip at Marion Reservoir. The plan was to set up camp Friday evening, then fish, swim, eat, play games with the 3- and 4-year-old, eat, swim, and fish. The trip was my dad’s idea. Over the past three months, I’ve heard of some new gadget or gear purchase from my mother or my sister when they call. New fishing poles for the kids, two family-sized tents, a screened-in eating area, a special doohickey for making omelets over a campfire (why would anybody need such a thing?), and so much more. The mountain of gear being transported from my parents’ garage in three vehicles had reached mythic proportions by the time I sat to watch it being unloaded at the lake Friday evening.

Another Day in the Country

My mother was a prankster of sorts, drawing the line at silly things like jumping out at you in the dark when you weren’t expecting her while playing hide and seek or squirting water at you from 10 feet away when there was no water gun in sight. She came from a family of pranksters. Her brothers were pranksters, except for her youngest brother, Art, who was absolutely perfect in her sight — and he pretty much was. Her other two brothers were known for their pranks, which went beyond silly things. I’ve told you some of them — like overloading the shotgun with powder because they were tired of following the Lutheran preacher around attempting to shoot rabbits. Or the famous prank my Uncle Hank would never live down, according to my mother: substituting rotten eggs for his sisters’ Easter eggs.

Hope in the Heartland

A stench floating up from the ground caused the young man to grimace in disgust. A hot breeze lifted the overpowering smell of pig urine and manure from the muddy ground, making his eyes burn and forcing him to breathe through his mouth instead of his nose. His sandal sank in the slop and as he pulled his foot out, new odor emerged from the sludge. He tossed a few barely edible carob pods toward a herd of pigs and they devoured them quickly. He glared at the last of the carob pods in his hands, knowing he had to save so the swine could eat tomorrow.

Random Thoughts

Did you miss me in the paper last week? I missed me! I don’t know how long I can keep writing. I’m not out and around, so I probably miss a lot.

'Rednecks' to gather in Ramona on July 4

More than $500 will be awarded at the annual Redneck in Ramona parade and festivities July 4. The day will begin at 8 a.m. with a 2-mile run/walk and a 10-kilometer race. Breakfast will be served 8 to 10 a.m. at Ramona Senior Center. Donations will benefit the senior center and Ramona Park.

Fireworks planned at Aulne

Aulne United Methodist Church’s annual Independence Day celebration will be July 3 at the church, 140th and Pawnee roads, about five miles south of Marion. Traditionally on a Sunday, the celebration, which is open to the public, will be a day earlier. Live music will be performed at 7 p.m. Homemade ice cream will be served at 8 p.m. Fireworks will cap the evening at 9 p.m.

Walking for global workers

Jonathan Stalls, with his dog, Kanoa, is on a 3,000-mile mission. He wants to educate Americans about Kiva, a non-profit organization that gives loans to entrepreneurs all over the world. Stalls was walking from Florence to Peabody on Tuesday morning, beginning his 115th day on the road.

Hadsell trust, pipeline donate to hospital

To challenge other donors, the trustees of the Lorraine Hadsell Charitable Trust are willing to donate up to $100,000 to St. Luke Hospital Foundation’s capital campaign for hospital renovations but not without an effort from the community. After donating $25,000, trustees decided to match every donation now through July 31 to the campaign, dollar for dollar, up to $75,000.

CORRESPONDENTS:

MEMORIES:

Hillsboro sweeps Marion

The Marion senior Babe Ruth team lost to Hillsboro 16-4 and 4-3 in ta doubleheader Tuesday in Hillsboro. Marion hurlers Heath Hill and Ethan Hett struggled early in the first game. Hillsboro opened a 9-0 lead in the first inning. The two pitchers combined to walk nine Hillsboro batters in the game, two of whom scored runs with the bases loaded.

Warriors ready to explode with offense

The Marion Senior Babe Ruth team reached a turning point in its season June 16 against Abilene in Marion. “Me and Mike (Jeffrey) told them this is the time we need to come back,” Marion Head Coach Tyler Mermis said.

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