BREAKING NEWS
UPDATED AFTER PRINT DEADLINE
The search for 17-year-old Tara Simhiser, of Lehigh, ended around noon Thursday when law enforcement found her in Brown County in northeast Kansas. “She is fine. She is OK,” Marion County Sheriff Rob Craft said. “She is somewhat nervous, scared. It’s a lot of emotions for a young lady.”
Doses not yet available to county residents By SUSAN BERG Managing editor As a way to impress the safety of one of two forms of the H1N1 vaccine — this one being a live, attenuated nasal spray — Marion County Health Department Director Diedre Serene received a dose Oct. 14.
By ADAM STEWART Staff writer “Bob” grew up in a poor family. His single mother worked to support her four children, but she needed government assistance to get by.
Plans are being made for the annual community Thanksgiving Day dinner. A traditional dinner will be served noon to 1:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Day at Marion Middle/High School Commons. The menu will include turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, salad, dessert, roll, coffee, or tea. A donation will be accepted but is not required.
Well, we knew the Patagonian cavy needed to be caught. And we knew the large rodent could be a larger animal’s lunch. But when it happened, it made us sad. That’s what happened Sunday. A dog caught the unusual animal that eluded humans for weeks and killed it.
The 16th annual Marion County Toy Run will be held on Nov. 7. The toy run has turned into a major benefactor for the underprivileged children of Marion County. Sponsored by the Sons of American Legion #366, ABATE of Kansas Dist. 9, and Route 56 Classic Cruisers, each participant is ask to donate one new toy as their entry fee.
While children petted miniature horses and led them on a nature trail Saturday, many remained unaware of the history of the diminutive horses. Marion High School freshman Cara Martin works with miniature horses at Tiny Trails of rural Marion, and she has learned some of their history.
Lorena Goossen, 79, of Goessel, died Oct. 15 at Hillsboro Community Hospital, Hillsboro. Born Aug. 25, 1930, in Hillsboro, to John D. and Lydia (Wiebe) Pankratz, she married George Goossen Jr. July 21, 1951, in rural Goessel.
Robert “Bob” Stewart Freeland, 93, died Oct. 11, at his residence in Whittier, Calif. Born Nov. 17, 1915, in Guthrie, Okla., he was the oldest son of Robert Haddon and Ethel May (Stewart) Freeland.
Ronald G. “Ronnie” Morris, 69, died Sept. 16, in Corterville, Calif. Ron attended Peabody High School and recently celebrated his 50th class reunion in May.
David Justin Caselman, 54, died Oct. 15, in Grand Junction, Colo. Born Sept. 20, 1955, in Marion to William (Bill) and Ruth Caselman, he married Diane Johnson in 1983.
Maurice J. Stroda, 82, died Oct. 13 at Mercy Regional Health Center, Manhattan. Born Dec. 31, 1926, to Joseph and Pauline (Schuster) Stroda, he was married Aug. 31, 1948, to Margaret Vinduska in Pilsen.
Madelyn Vogel, 83, of Marion, died Oct. 19, at Parkside Homes, Hillsboro. A resident of Wichita the majority of her life, Madelyn ran Bricker Nursery School out of her home from 1957 to 1991, moving to Marion in 1989.
An individual is accused of pushing a woman into a wall and putting a lighted cigarette on her face at 5 a.m. Sept. 26 in the 200 block of Lombard Street, Lincolnville. The same individual also is accused of pushing a male over a handrail on a porch. A case of domestic battery is being investigated which occurred at 7:20 p.m. Oct. 4 in the 1000 block of Falcon Road, Hillsboro.
With graceful ease and confidence, Jean Jost of Hillsboro moves across scaffolding Friday as she removes wallpaper from a 19-foot wall in the home of Mike and Kathy Ghahremanzadeh in Carriage Hills, Hillsboro. Most women Jost’s age spend their time knitting, baking, or at least not atop boards and pipes.
While geothermal heat has the reputation for costing nothing, the initial installation of the system is an investment of time and money. Three 200-foot deep holes were dug into the ground next to the house that Marion High School construction class, taught by Lucas King, has rapidly been building. The 40-foot tall drill, owned and operated by Associated Drilling, that burrowed into the earth drained 20 gallons of diesel fuel an hour, drilling in 10, 20-foot segments.
For Jeannie Wildin, co-owner of The County Seat Decorating Center in Marion, the hand-scraped flooring she sells is more than just a product. It represents hope and a future for prisoners who might not have either, if not for the opportunity to produce the flooring.
The Kansas Attorney General’s office has found Marion County Public Safety and Law Enforcement Committee, which was appointed by Marion County Commission, had violated the Kansas Open Meetings Act Sept. 9 when it discussed and subsequently asked for the removal of a board member. According to Assistant Attorney General Michael Smith, appointed groups, such as the county jail committee, are required to follow KOMA, which stipulates notifying the public, including newspapers, of approaching meetings and taking specific action during those meetings.
Marion County Commission met with mayors or council members from five cities to discuss possible changes to Marion County Economic Development Council bylaws Tuesday. Mayors or other representatives were invited from all 12 cities in Marion County. Mayors Mary Shipman, of Florence; Peggy Jay, of Goessel; Delores Dalke, of Hillsboro; and Larry Larsen, of Peabody; and council members Trayce Warner, of Florence, and Stacey Collett, of Marion, attended the meeting.
Marion City Council spent the majority of Monday’s meeting at Central Park. The council reviewed Phase I of planned improvements in 2010 that includes burying electrical lines, installation of decorative limestone light posts, and the removal of some electrical poles.
Marion County Commission voted to refuse permits to TransCanada for its planned Keystone Pipeline unless they are able to meet with a company representative to discuss concerns about damage to county roads. Road and Bridge Superintendent John Summerville said TransCanada planned to store pipes at the intersection of 290th and Quail Creek roads. The company requested a variance to haul pipes on county roads.
Marion County Extension Executive Board — and its Dickinson County counterpart — wants to form a two-county extension district, agent Rickey Roberts told Marion County Commission on Monday. The Kansas Legislature voted to allow extension districts in the early 1990s, and the first district formed in 1994, Area Extension Director Dale Fjell said.
Transporting inmates to other counties could cost Marion County about $300,000 per year, Sheriff Rob Craft told Marion County Law Enforcement and Public Safety Center Committee on Oct. 13. That would pay for the cost of housing and transporting inmates but not maintaining a holding facility where inmates would await transport.
Several times each day, Marion County Appraiser’s Office employees climb up 21 stairs to the temporary office at Great Plains Computers and Networking at 324 E. Main St., Marion. “We’re getting our exercise,” Appraiser Cindy Magill said.
The question now has been answered in black and white by the state attorney general. Any group appointed by a taxing entity — including city councils, county commission, and school boards — are bound by the same open meeting laws as the governing boards themselves regardless of whether or not decisions will be made by the appointed group. When these violations occur, typically it is not intentional. Usually it is the result of a group wanting to complete the tasks as quickly and painlessly as possible. Unfortunately, the public does have a right to know what they may be paying for in the end.
COLUMNS:
Random Thoughts: Books, books, and more books,
Another Day in the Country
Susan White and Richard Moscicki Jr. of Wichita exchanged wedding vows July 11, in the backyard of the bride’s mother in McPherson. Parents of the couple are Sheryl White of McPherson and Dennis White of Canton, and Florence Moscicki of Buffalo, N.Y., and the late Richard Moscicki Sr.
Army Reserve Pvt. Casey J. Wedel has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Knox, Ky. During the nine-week training period, the trainee received instruction in drill and ceremony, weapons, rifle marksmanship and bayonet training, chemical warfare, field training and tactical exercises, armed and unarmed combat, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, traditions, and core values.
The Marion High School graduating class of 1949 met on Old Settlers’ Day at Marion Senior Center for their 60th class reunion. Coffee and donuts were served before the class rode in the annual parade. They had lunch in the park and took part in the class presentations. A catered supper was served to the class members and their spouses.
The family of S.R. “Chuck” Lunderman has requested a card shower in honor of his 90th birthday Sunday. He was born Oct. 25, 1919, in La Russell, Mo. On Nov. 26, 1944, he married Kathryn Webster in Quinter. They have three children, Leslie and wife Linda of Valley Center; Joann and husband Ken Staley; and Lee and wife Janet of Salina.
Sixty-five Collett descendents met Oct. 11 at Marion County Lake Hall for a reunion. After dinner, a white elephant auction was held. Auctioneers Gina Marx and Deanna Talbott entertained the crowd.
Troy Schmidt is eager to talk about his responsibilities as the new custodian at Marion County Courthouse. Since taking the job in early September, he has learned a lot about the 102-year-old limestone building and its contents.
BIRTHS:
Orion Marsh,
Dylan Bredemeier,
Brady IdlemanCORRESPONDENTS:
Ramona,
Marion Senior CenterMEMORIES:
10,
25,
35,
50,
60,
100,
125 years ago
Marion Middle School Music Department will present a fall concert at 7 p.m. Monday in the USD 408 Performing Arts Center. Marion Middle School band, under the direction of Adam Johnson, and choir, with director David Clark, will perform with accompanist Karla Telganov.
Middle and high school volunteers participated in a mock trial Monday at Marion County Courthouse, practicing for real cases that the volunteers will address in youth court. In youth court, volunteers fill the roles of court clerk, jury, prosecutor, and defense attorney, coordinator and Eighth Judicial District Court Services Officer Amber Knapp said. A local attorney fills the role of judge. Marion County youth court began in 2002.
“Happy birthday to Drew.” Drew Maddox’s gift to himself was two rushing touchdowns, 112 yards on the ground, and a blowout victory for Marion.
Julia Zeiner never seems like anything less than a natural on the volleyball court. Her movements are usually swift, graceful, and powerful; and she is almost always poised and confident, as much a leader as a great athlete.
Marion cross-country runners Jordan Hett and Ryan Jones led the Mid-Central Activities Association League race at Hesston Golf Club as the group of competitors ran around the pond at the farthest corner of the white-line course. Jones, a senior, was helping push Hett, a freshman, through the most difficult part of the race. Runners that were once tightly packed were now separated by yards instead of feet, no longer connected to a group but in solitude toward the finish line.
Centre volleyball ended for the season Tuesday when the team lost in two games to Elyria. The team had defeated Burton in three games earlier in the contest but fell in the single elimination tournament.
Marion residents Mike Powers, Casey Case, Bruce Skiles, and Mike Moran have no problem running in any type of weather. Moran said he even prefers a flurry or two.