Marion County RECORD

HEADLINES

Wind power faces some turbulence
The developer of a proposed wind farm in Marion County compares his quest to a hurdle race — none of the hurdles is insurmountable, but all it takes is one to trip over. “Everything takes longer, costs more, and is more difficult than you expected,” said Rex Savage of Windborne Energy, who is planning a wind farm south of 140th Road, north of U.S. 50, east of Pawnee Road, and west of U.S. 77.
County ponders 3.8-mill increase
Road and bridge funding may push Marion County property taxes higher in 2011, accountant Scot Loyd told county commissioners Monday. The proposed road and bridge and special bridge budgets for 2011 would cause a 3.8-mill increase from 2010, but the budgets are likely to be cut before the county determines its final spending plan.
'Miraculous': Fair lucks into a carnival
One community’s loss is another’s gain. Such is the case this year with Marion County Fair, which confirmed Monday that a carnival will be at the fair for the first time since 2007. Another fair had complications, leaving Pride Amusements of Galena with an empty week. Pride Amusements co-owner Ed Burlingame contacted Fair Manager Stephanie Richmond to ask whether the fair association was looking for a carnival.
Tourney may be hit for retailers
Marion is gearing up for four days of baseball and out-of-town visitors as teams and supporters from communities across the state arrive of the Cal Ripken state tournament for 11-year-olds Friday through Monday. With only one field in use for the eight-team tournament, Marion businesses should have plenty of opportunities to lure in new customers.
Tokyo man rolls across U.S. to say thanks
A 62-year-old Tokyo man is living his dream of traveling across the U.S. and telling people his story, a lifetime in the making. Kenichi “Ken” Yamashita rolled through Marion County this past week, but not on a bicycle, the way he did 20 years ago with his son, Shoko.
Model airplane event is going to fly again -- maybe
A few months ago, the City Council and Airport Authority were adamant about not allowing Heart of America Free Flight Association to use the Marion Municipal Airport for an aerial contest. When the groups met Monday evening, it appeared a resolution was found, and the organization will use the property.
City works to alleviate mosquito nuisance
Harold Conyers of Marion likes to garden, but he doesn’t like mosquitoes. And this summer seems to him as if it has been a bad time for mosquitoes. He tries to protect himself when he gardens, but no method is foolproof.

DEATHS

Patrick Kelly
Patrick Joseph “Pat” Kelly, 52, of Edina, Mo., passed away July 15, 2010, at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville, Mo. Pat was born March 17, 1958, in Newton, the son of Robert Eugene and Donna Rae (Ehrlich) Kelly.
Alma Toews
Alma Toews, 69, of Hillsboro, died July 17 at Mercy Hospital, Moundridge. Born March 27, 1941, in Steinbach, Manitoba, to David and Katharina (Reimer) Toews, she was a schoolteacher.
Leona Widler
Former Florence resident Leona C. Widler, 105, died Monday at Legacy Park in Peabody. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Zeiner Funeral Home, Florence.

DOCKET

GOVERNMENT

Holub pushes challenge of pipeline tax break
Marion County Commissioner Dan Holub is not going to give up seeking reversal of a legislative decision that would exempt Keystone Pipeline from paying property taxes. Holub contacted a Wichita television station and set up an interview Thursday to discuss his concerns.
Tampa council focused on plumbing
Problems with vandalism were discussed Monday by Tampa City Council. Someone had broken the hardware in the toilet in the men’s restroom on Main Street. It was decided to lock the facility until repairs could be made.

OPINION

Let's get behind St. Luke
A newly renovated hospital in Marion is on the horizon. Machinery is being moved onto the hospital grounds in preparation for the first phase of the project.
Many candidates, few differences
Choice is a word you won’t hear much in the current election, and not just in relation to abortion. Most candidates — particularly Republicans — seem remarkably similar on paper. All, even a few Democrats, give at least lip service to an array of conservative issues: cutting taxes, cracking down on illegal immigration, opposing abortion, and overturning what the federal government plans to do with health care.
Another Day in the Country
As times change, words change. In olden days, we had parlors or day rooms. Since the 1950s we’ve had dens, though I suppose now they’d be offices or family rooms. “Bling” is such a new word my computer does not have it in its database. You may not either. It was coined by the younger set, as new words often are, to describe bright, flashy, showy, gaudy, and sometimes cheap jewelry. This was called costume jewelry when I was a kid.
Hope in the Heartland
As the one running drew closer, the son could hear his own heart pounding in his ears like a fist on a door. He couldn’t believe his eyes — it was his father! He knew that the moment of face-to-face repentance was fast approaching. His breath caught in his dry throat as his father came closer. He could see tears streaming down his father’s weathered face and a look of deep affection shining from his eyes.
LETTERS:
Who has PAC money?, Peril of special interests, Endorsement doubted, Brookens defended, Just the facts, please

PEOPLE

BIRTHS:
Billy Coleman, Julia Thompson
CORRESPONDENTS:
Burdick, Senior Center
ENGAGEMENTS:
MEMORIES:
10, 25, 35, 50, 60, 100, 125 years ago

SCHOOL

Enrollment fees back for 2010-'11
USD 408 will charge a $30 enrollment fee when each student enrolls Aug. 5. This is the first year since 2005-06 that the district will have enrollment fees.
Special ed to begin year in the black
Board members of Marion County Special Education Cooperative couldn’t help but smile Monday evening when new director David Sheppard announced the cooperative had ended the year not only in the black but more than a half-million ahead. Earlier in the fiscal year members had been told the cooperative could end the year with less than $50,000 in the bank.

SPORTS

Marion 14-year-olds win district
The Marion Babe Ruth team punched their ticket to the state tournament Friday with an 18-6 win over the Newton Lumberjacks in Marion. The team is heading to Altamont July 23 and will face either Parsons or Coffeyville.
Little rest for an athlete
Matt Sprowls’ schedule last week is a good example of what summer can be like for a Marion athlete. Sprowls would wake up to lift weights at 6 a.m. with the rest of the football team. The team would then hit the practice field east of the stadium about 7:30 for football camp.
Senior Babe Ruth season ends at state tournament
The Marion Senior Babe Ruth team’s run endedThursday and Friday with two losses in Liberal. In the first game against Coffeyville, Marshall Ragland pitched eight innings and allowed Coffeyville to score only four runs. Coffeyville tied the score in the seventh to force an extra inning and eventually won, 4-3.
CVL 13-year-olds head to state as wild card
The Mid-Kansas League baseball team defeated the Cottonwood Valley League All-stars 11-1 in the 13 and under age division championship game to win District 4. Play began Thursday when Mid-Kansas League defeated Cottonwood Valley, 5-1.
Zeiner named female athlete of the year
Marion High School graduate Julia Zeiner has been named female athlete of the year by The Hutchinson News. Zeiner was chosen because of her performance in three sports her senior year.

SUMMER FUN

Treat yourself to nature's beauty
Organizers Janet Marler, Pam Bowers, Jeanice Thomas, and Margaret Wilson knew there was going to be hundreds of visitors in town for the Cal Ripken baseball tournament. Why not give visitors and residents something fun and unusual to do while in Marion?
Salon owner has passion for ranching
Callie Peterson of Marion kept busy Thursday afternoon cutting and coloring hair at her Signatures Salon. Hours later she was busy with much less delicate tasks: roping and vaccinating calves at Haywire Cattle Company, south of El Dorado. Peterson, along with brother Seth Larson, boyfriend Andy Jones, and his father, Randy Jones, began by herding cattle from a pasture into pens.
It's not rocket science, is it?
Even after six years of competing in rocketry, Isaac Perry, 15, experiences a thrill from every launch. “It’s something so easy,” Perry said, “but you feel so good after you push the button.”
Think out of the box at area museums
Looking for something fun, educational, and free to do this summer? Several museums in Marion County offer such a combination. Marion Historical Museum has a new interactive exhibit.
Go camping ... with comforts of home
Lowell Hale has a different idea of roughing it in the outdoors. “We’re roughing it with showers and air conditioning,” Hale said, not to mention high-speed Internet and satellite TV.
If they build it, demolition will come
The first time Tommy Tajchman of rural Marion saw a demolition derby, he decided he wanted to drive in one himself. Having volunteered to serve in a friend’s pit crew, he became enamored with the sport.
So will this gardener's flowers, but only once a year
Jack Kerbs experienced an event last week that he anticipates every summer: His perennial hibiscus started to bloom. Kerbs has three perennial hibiscus in his garden at 320 S. Freeborn St., Marion. An 8-foot-tall hibiscus in the sunniest part of his backyard was filled with 20 maroon-colored flowers, about 10 inches in diameter, a week ago.

Marion County RECORD

A 62-year-old Tokyo man is living his dream of traveling across the U.S. and telling people his story, a lifetime in the making. Kenichi “Ken” Yamashita rolled through Marion County this past week, but not on a bicycle, the way he did 20 years ago with his son, Shoko.

Harold Conyers of Marion likes to garden, but he doesn’t like mosquitoes. And this summer seems to him as if it has been a bad time for mosquitoes. He tries to protect himself when he gardens, but no method is foolproof.

Patrick Joseph “Pat” Kelly, 52, of Edina, Mo., passed away July 15, 2010, at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville, Mo. Pat was born March 17, 1958, in Newton, the son of Robert Eugene and Donna Rae (Ehrlich) Kelly.

Alma Toews, 69, of Hillsboro, died July 17 at Mercy Hospital, Moundridge. Born March 27, 1941, in Steinbach, Manitoba, to David and Katharina (Reimer) Toews, she was a schoolteacher.

Former Florence resident Leona C. Widler, 105, died Monday at Legacy Park in Peabody. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Zeiner Funeral Home, Florence.

Marion County Commissioner Dan Holub is not going to give up seeking reversal of a legislative decision that would exempt Keystone Pipeline from paying property taxes. Holub contacted a Wichita television station and set up an interview Thursday to discuss his concerns.

Problems with vandalism were discussed Monday by Tampa City Council. Someone had broken the hardware in the toilet in the men’s restroom on Main Street. It was decided to lock the facility until repairs could be made.

A newly renovated hospital in Marion is on the horizon. Machinery is being moved onto the hospital grounds in preparation for the first phase of the project.

LETTERS:

BIRTHS:

CORRESPONDENTS:

ENGAGEMENTS:

MEMORIES:

USD 408 will charge a $30 enrollment fee when each student enrolls Aug. 5. This is the first year since 2005-06 that the district will have enrollment fees.

The Marion Babe Ruth team punched their ticket to the state tournament Friday with an 18-6 win over the Newton Lumberjacks in Marion. The team is heading to Altamont July 23 and will face either Parsons or Coffeyville.

Matt Sprowls’ schedule last week is a good example of what summer can be like for a Marion athlete. Sprowls would wake up to lift weights at 6 a.m. with the rest of the football team. The team would then hit the practice field east of the stadium about 7:30 for football camp.

The Mid-Kansas League baseball team defeated the Cottonwood Valley League All-stars 11-1 in the 13 and under age division championship game to win District 4. Play began Thursday when Mid-Kansas League defeated Cottonwood Valley, 5-1.

Marion High School graduate Julia Zeiner has been named female athlete of the year by The Hutchinson News. Zeiner was chosen because of her performance in three sports her senior year.

Organizers Janet Marler, Pam Bowers, Jeanice Thomas, and Margaret Wilson knew there was going to be hundreds of visitors in town for the Cal Ripken baseball tournament. Why not give visitors and residents something fun and unusual to do while in Marion?

Even after six years of competing in rocketry, Isaac Perry, 15, experiences a thrill from every launch. “It’s something so easy,” Perry said, “but you feel so good after you push the button.”

Looking for something fun, educational, and free to do this summer? Several museums in Marion County offer such a combination. Marion Historical Museum has a new interactive exhibit.

Lowell Hale has a different idea of roughing it in the outdoors. “We’re roughing it with showers and air conditioning,” Hale said, not to mention high-speed Internet and satellite TV.

The first time Tommy Tajchman of rural Marion saw a demolition derby, he decided he wanted to drive in one himself. Having volunteered to serve in a friend’s pit crew, he became enamored with the sport.