Marion County RECORD

County offices will share employee

Marion County Department for Elderly will share employee Lanell Hett with the county treasurer’s office for the final two months of 2009. Commissioners made the decision Monday to avoid hiring someone to fill a vacancy in the treasurer’s office.

School board decides not to join Schools for Fair Funding

USD 408 school board voted unanimously to not join Schools for Fair Funding. Schools for Fair Funding is a group of schools planning to sue the state to gain more funding for education. The consensus among school board members was that the state was not holding back any funds.

Farmers report excellent crop yields

According to grain elevator managers in Marion County, farmers are happy with the fall harvest so far. After almost a week of warm, dry weather, they have made good progress. Phil Timken, manager of the Mid-Kansas Co-op elevator in Peabody, reported Monday that 99 percent of the corn in that area has been harvested. He said farmers are reporting yields of as much as 200 bushels per acre, with an average of 120 to 130.

Mayor Jim Clemmer had passion for Tampa

The one thing that everyone talks about when commenting on the life of Jim Clemmer is his love of Tampa. Everyone agrees that after Clemmer became mayor in 1991, he gave himself wholeheartedly to the development and improvement of the town.

Christmas comes to Marion Nov. 29

Marion is gearing up for Christmas with kickoff activities the weekend after Thanksgiving Day. The annual Christmas parade will be 2 p.m. Nov. 29 in downtown Marion. This year’s theme is “A (Stay Home) Country Christmas in Marion,” encouraging residents to shop at home for Christmas.

Annual Toy Run benefits entire county

Members of Sons of the American Legion, Route 56 Classic Cruisers, and ABATE of Kansas District 9 sponsored the 16th annual Marion County Toy Run Saturday. A group of 166 motorcycles, six cars, a trailer with 28 bicycles and two tricycles, and a fire truck gathered at SherBowl Lanes in Marion and traveled to Hillsboro American Legion for an auction and chili feed.

Doug Kjellin: Business powerhouse for Marion

Doug Kjellin spends his free time thinking of ways to make money. Kjellin bought a 1983 Oldsmobile Tornado, but then he found a cheaper ’83. He bought the second car and is in the process of breaking it down for parts. He is planning on keeping a few parts as emergency backups, then selling the rest of the parts, and selling the body of the car.

Out of work? Down on your luck?: Help is available for Marion County residents

There is a network of agencies in Marion County helping people who have lost their jobs. These different places each provide services and often call upon one another for help. Lynn Unruh has a modest office on the east side of downtown Marion. She has colorful printed sayings posted on the walls of that office to illustrate points about finances. “It is better to have a steady income than be fascinating,” and “A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went,” are two of the inspirational gems found on the walls of the otherwise drab structure.

With some help, farmer averts disaster

Galen Ensz, of rural Hillsboro, was able to turn a disaster into a mere headache Nov. 4, with help from Cooperative Grain and Supply and Ag Service, both of Hillsboro. Ensz’s son, Andrew Ensz, was driving a soybean-laden truck west on 175th Road in the afternoon when he turned north on Kanza Road. During the turn, the right rear tire slid into the steep ditch. The weight of the soybeans caused the truck to tip, spilling its load into the ditch. Nobody was hurt in the accident.

Linda Skiles resigns from hospital clinic

Dr. Linda Skiles of St. Luke Physician Clinic has resigned from her position and accepted a position at Fort Riley. According to St. Luke Hospital Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Armstrong, Skiles submitted her resignation, which will be effective Feb. 1.

County jail committee sends recommendation to commissioners

Marion County Law Enforcement and Public Safety Center Committee voted Thursday to send its recommendations to Marion County Commission. Its recommendations include two possible architects and a financing plan for a possible new jail, sheriff’s department offices, and 911 dispatch. The committee is recommending the commission select either Treanor Architects, P.A., of Topeka, or HMN Architects, Inc., of Overland Park, for the project.

Both vaccines still available in county

Five more Kansans died last week from infection with the H1N1 influenza virus, bringing the state death toll to 17. “Pandemic H1N1 remains the greatest flu threat facing Kansas and the nation,” Kansas State Health Officer Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips said. “As sad as this and the other deaths are, they remind us how fortunate we are that a vaccine against this virus exists, that all of us will eventually have the opportunity to become vaccinated, and how important it is that we take steps to reduce the risk of transmitting flu viruses.”

Goessel falls to Baileyville, 58-24

The Goessel High School Bluebird football season came to an end Saturday with a loss to one of the best eight-man teams in the state. “This was probably one of the closest teams that I have ever coached,” Coup said. “There was a chemistry with this team that I really enjoyed. After the first game of the season (which resulted in a loss) these guys worked really hard. Our guys have a lot to be proud of. It was a fun game and a fun season.”

Spartans use turnovers to eliminate Hillsboro

Being located in the Central Plains region, Kansas is a long way from any mountain range. Unfortunately, the Trojans found themselves buried under an avalanche Saturday night in Wichita, in the regional round of the Class 3A state football playoffs. The “avalanche” came in the form of superior, more athletic, and taller Collegiate Spartan team.

Tabor College Bluejays drop heartbreaker in Winfield

With eight straight losses, Nov. 7 may have been a date circled on the Bluejays football team’s calendar. That’s because Tabor would get perhaps its best chance to snap its losing streak Saturday in Winfield against the Southwestern Moundbuilders.

Topham takes first at college championship

Former Peabody-Burns High School standout Andrew Topham won the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference 2009 men’s individual cross-country championship Saturday at Lake Afton Park, Goddard. Topham, representing Southwestern College of Winfield, finished the eight-kilometer race in 25 minutes, 7 seconds. The Southwestern College men’s team also won the competition, besting eight other schools.

Tabor College musicians to perform Nov. 22 at Hillsboro Mennonite church

Everyone is invited to attend the community-wide Thanksgiving Service and Fall Festival Concert, “With Praise and Thanksgiving,” beginning at 4 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, 300 Prairie Point, in Hillsboro. The event is co-sponsored by Tabor College and the Hillsboro Area Ministerial Association and will featureconcert performances by a variety of groups and soloists from the TaborMusic Department. Admission is free with a donation of a non-perishable food item for Main Street Ministries. A freewill offering will also be taken for the work of the ministerial alliance.

Watch out for Medicare fraud, scams during open enrollment period

During the upcoming open-enrollment period for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans, Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger urges Kansas Medicare beneficiaries to be alert to any potential scams surrounding sign-up activity. Unfortunately, not everyone who contacts Medicare-age Kansans about switching to a Medicare drug plan has the best intentions. Education is important in fighting potential fraud and illegal sales. And, given the current health reform debates that Congress is engaged in, some unscrupulous people might try to take advantage by confusing certain aspects of the current proposals to scare beneficiaries into something they don’t need.

Accidents

Civil division

County jail

Criminal division

Deeds recorded

Domestic

Hillsboro police report

Peabody police report

Small claims

Traffic division

James Clemmer

Tampa Mayor James “Jim” E. Clemmer, 81, of Tampa, died Nov. 2, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita. Born May 19, 1928, in Emporia, to James M. and Erna L. (Gramke) Clemmer. He was a salesman.

Nell Hiebert

Nell G. Hiebert, 94, died Oct. 23 at Parkside Homes, Hillsboro. Born March 26, 1915, in Lathrop, Mo., to G. Arthur and Allie (Lewis) Sizemore, she was married Aug. 3, 1941, to Henry H. Hiebert.

Rena Topham

Rena M. Topham, 84, Fredonia, died Oct. 31 at her home. Born April 22, 1925, to Dietrick H. and Susan F. (Conyer) Ubben in Peabody, she was married Sept. 16, 1940, to James D. Topham in Peabody.

Let's make the best of it

I have noticed that people’s behavior is changing. Some are becoming more aggressive, easily agitated, and just plain nasty. I’ve mentioned this to other people, primarily in passing, and was surprised with some responses.

Support promotion

Consumers are already being bombarded with sales and promotions designed to entice us to Christmas shop now — before Thanksgiving Day. We can’t blame retailers. It’s been a lean summer and fall for most. Some are desperate to improve their bottom line before the end of the year and there’s no guarantee the Christmas shopping season alone will be able to do that.

LETTERS:

COLUMNS:

CORRESPONDENTS:

MEMORIES:

Not the same old song and dance: Area high schools to present musicals this weekend

Goessel, Hillsboro, Marion, and Peabody-Burns high schools will each present a musical production this weekend. The reason for the sudden rush of theater is “buffer week” — a week between football regular season and the start of basketball practice. The week provides the best opportunity to finish and present the shows.

Students learn about the body, healthy living

Marion Elementary School students walked through the human body, traveling from the brain to small intestine. The Body Venture exhibit, the exposition is sponsored by the Kansas Department of Education, came to Marion on Thursday. Each Elementary School class took turns touring through the plastic tent like stations that mimicked the traits of specific body parts. Body Venture was separated into nine sections with each class spending five minutes at each body part.

Commentary: Theater season is upon us

It’s that time of year again. The football regular season is over, but basketball practice hasn’t started. That means it is time for high school theater. This weekend, four high schools in the county will present musicals for the public: “Working” in Hillsboro, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” in Marion, “Fiddler on the Roof” at Peabody-Burns High School, and “Brigadoon” at Goessel.

Centre's turnaround season ends in 48-0 loss

One year ago, Centre only won two games and did not make it to the playoffs. On Saturday, the Cougars were 8-1 heading into the regional match in Hanover against the 2008 state champion in 1A eight-man District II. The 9-1 Wildcats overpowered the Cougars and won, 48-0.

Warrior JV team has magnificent season

With a half of a second remaining in the game, Dillon Richmond completed a 28-yard touchdown pass to Dakin Ledford to supplant Sterling, on the road, 24-22, Monday Sept. 24. The Warrior junior varsity football squad defeated three teams — Sterling, Hoisington, and Southeast of Saline — in the last minute of each game. The Warriors defeated SES in overtime 24-18 in the last game of the season to earn a 7-1 record.

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