Marion County RECORD

EMS director pleads for policy change

Marion County ambulance director Steve Smith pleaded with the Marion County Fire Chiefs Assembly Friday to change the policy for Emergency Medical Services calls. Currently, dispatchers are instructed to call ambulances for any structure fire, Chief Mike Regnier said.

City of Marion raises taxes by 2 mills

Marion City Council approved an ordinance Monday to raise taxes — increasing the mill levy by 2 mills. The 2-mill increase was a change from an earlier budget proposal by city administrator Doug Kjellin asking for a 4-mill increase.

Ambulance service switching to dispatch codes

Marion County Emergency Medical Service planned to switch Tuesday to using codes instead of descriptions when emergency medical technicians are paged, EMS Director Steve Smith told Marion County Commission on Monday. Smith announced the change after discussing concerns with the Emergency Dispatches section of this newspaper’s docket page. He said he was concerned with the amount of detail included.

Full-time paramedic service may become EMS's future

Because of a shortage of Emergency Medical Technicians, Marion County Ambulance director Steve Smith said the county will eventually have to provide a full-time, paramedic-run ambulance service. As a stopgap measure, Smith said he will propose to County Commissioners that they should hire another full-time Emergency Medical Services staff member, like Smith, who can fill in as an EMT.

EMTs go to great lengths to transport patients

If a victim is bleeding profusely from multiple gunshot wounds when the ambulance arrives, the only thinkable solution to Peabody paramedic Larry Larsen is a hasty ride to the hospital. However, Larsen has seen patients in this condition refuse transport.

Fire destroys vacation home, RV

Nobody was injured, but a house and a recreational vehicle were destroyed by fire Aug. 3 at Eastshore. The cause of the fire was undetermined. Marion Fire Department was paged to an RV on fire at 5:57 p.m., Fire Chief Mike Regnier said. The RV was behind a house at 2137 Schlotthauer, owned by Don Higgins of Peck.

KDHE tests Marion County Lake again for algae

Kansas Department of Health and Environment tested Marion County Park and Lake for blue-green algae Monday, and it is possible the test could result in lifting the health advisory at the lake, KDHE representatives told Marion County Commission on Monday. The test came after a week that was — in comparison to July — cool, wet, and cloudy. Potentially harmful blue-green algae thrive in hot and clear conditions.

Laurie Creamer

Laurie M. Creamer, 50, died Aug. 7 at her home in Marion. She was born Feb. 18, 1961, in Marion, to Chester and Bonnie (Roberts) Ratzloff. She graduated from Marion High School.

Elmer K. Friesen

Elmer K. Friesen, 84, died Aug. 5 at Parkside Home in Hillsboro. He worked in management for Cooperative Grain & Supply for 40 years.

Ella Dick

Ella Dick, 89, died Aug. 6 at Salem Home in Hillsboro. She was a homemaker.

Jeagan Taylor

Ruth Jo Penner

Ruth Jo Penner, 90, died Aug. 2, at St. Luke Living Center in Marion. She was born July 23, 1921, near Cullom, Ill., the daughter of the Rev. Charles and Lena (Pollitt) Willming. Due to her mother’s passing during childbirth, she was raised by her grandmother Dora and aunt Dorothy Pollitt in Marion.

Accidents

Civil division

County jail

Criminal division

Deeds recorded

Domestic division

Emergency dispatches

Marion police department

Offenses reported

Small claims

County may need to accelerate Tampa road project

County Clerk Carol Maggard told Marion County Commission on Monday that construction is already behind the timeline set in a loan from Kansas Department of Transportation to build a blacktop road into Tampa. By now, the timeline calls for the county to have spent 15 percent of the $2 million loan, she said. By February, when the county expected to have contractors begin the work, the timeline calls for 75 percent to be spent.

Marion County property tax to increase less than 1 percent

The Marion County property tax rate will go up about 0.8 percent in 2012 if the commission approves a budget presented Monday. Commissioners trimmed more from the proposed budget with accountant Scot Loyd of Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk & Loyd. After making changes requested by the commission, Loyd estimated a property tax levy increase of 0.516 mills, or about $4.45 on a house appraised at $75,000.

Stepping into the breach

Marion County readers will be in good hands as we continue to search for an editor and manager for your favorite local newspapers. For now, copy editor / page designer Amanda Ayers, whose family is planning to relocate to another community later this year, has agreed to move temporarily to full-time status as our interim news editor.

Seeds of something fine

There are lots of new things going on at our house. For one thing, as you may have read, I have a (sort of) new job. I also have a new bike! My first since I was about 10 years old. Taking on the responsibilities of a news editor is both an exhilarating challenge for me and a bit of a hardship for our family. I will be staying in Marion to edit the Record while my husband and daughter move back to Kansas City where he has gotten a job. It’s not far. It won’t be forever, but it will likely be the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Another Day in the Country

Do you ever notice what firm notions we have about things? As I grow older, I’m sometimes startled that there are things I know for sure and a younger generation seems completely oblivious. I know it, I believe it, proven it for myself and am slightly startled if someone doesn’t have that notion, too. I can remember 20 years ago, at a city meeting here in Ramona where some of the citizens were attempting to get move-ins to clean up their mess on main street, of all things, in town and everyone was slightly unwilling to take the bull by the horns and speak to the mess makers, insisting that action be taken. My friend Darlene said, “They should know better!” speaking of the trash-mongers.

Hope in the Heartland

No seconds; get it all the first time. Never start a diet cold turkey; better lasagna or roast beef.

LETTERS:

More deaths than births in 2010

Data released by Kansas Department of Health and Environment showed that there were more deaths than births among Marion County residents in 2010. However, the data was better than in 2009. There were 126 births to county residents and 141 deaths in 2010. That resulted in a net loss of 15 residents, not including people moving into and out of the county. In 2009, there were 109 births and 152 deaths.

Sheriff investigates unattended rollover

The Marion County Sheriff’s office investigated an unattended rollover July 31 on Kanza Road North of Durham Cove. Hillsboro ambulance and firefighters were called to assist a sheriff’s officer at the rolled over vehicle even though it was initially reported that there was no one inside the car.

Residents pick up free produce

Marion residents flooded the Marion Senior Center by the dozens Thursday to check out the supply of fresh plums, peaches, nectarines, potatoes, and corn. “We see people we never see here to eat,” Shirley Bowers said.

Presentencing hearing continued

The presentencing hearing for Terry Bowen, Kenneth Frederick, and Lora Gay that was scheduled for Tuesday was continued to 10 a.m. Aug 29. Bowen, Frederick, and Gay were found guilty by a jury in June of rape of a child, aiding and abetting in the rape of a child, aggravated criminal sodomy, and aggravated kidnapping. Frederick and Gay also were convicted of criminal threat.

Former teacher and wife follow their dreams

People think the Johnsons are crazy for following their dreams — for Adam, colored-pencil drawings and music composition, for Laura, writing a novel. To take this path, Adam Johnson had to resign from a steady paycheck as a USD 408 music teacher.

Card shower requested for Winklers

Gene and Doris (Richmond) Winkler of Marion will celebrate their 50th anniversary Friday. Their children — Bruce Winkler and Sherri Hess — and grandchildren — Macy, Kelli, Erika, and Jake Hess — have requested a card shower in honor of the occasion. They were married Aug. 12, 1961, at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Marion. Gene owns G&J Video and Doris is employed with the Marion County Extension office.

Joyce Carlsons to celebrate 65th wedding anniversary

The family of Joyce and Ruth Ann Carlson request a card shower in honor of their 65th wedding anniversary. Joyce Carlson and Ruth Ann Meierhoff married Aug. 18, 1946 at her family’s home west of Clements.

Senior citizens' board increases workers compensation insurance

The senior citizens of Marion County Board of Directors met July 15 in Goessel. Hillsboro Senior Center President Charles Rempel asked the board for an additional $200 for workers’ compensation insurance. He said currently the center pays $885 a year and $297 every three months for the insurance. The board approved additional funds.

Marion native completes 5K obstacle course

When former Marion resident Mitch Enos, 26, heard about the Warrior Dash 5-kilometer (3.1-miles) obstacle course in Kansas City, he decided it sounded like a lot of fun. Enos, now living in Topeka, entered the race July 30 in Kansas City with some friends. The race was more grueling than any of them expected.

BIRTHS:

MEMORIES:

Julia Zeiner earns spot on all-academic team

Kansas State University heptathlete and Marion High School alumna Julia Zeiner has been named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association all-academic team. To qualify for the team, an athlete must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 or better and must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Championships, including preliminary rounds.

Virtual school enrollment running high

The Kansas Online Learning Program sponsored by Centre USD 397 is attracting many applicants in its second year of operation. Virtual school coordinator Vickie Jirak reported to the board of education Monday that 76 enrollment forms are on file and 10 more have been sent out. An additional two enrollment forms were received Monday.

2 CVL players make state all-star team

Austin Pedersen and Dylan Seacat will represent the 15-year-old Cottonwood Valley League All-Stars at a state all-star game Saturday and Sunday in Ottawa. The two Marion players were selected because the CVL team defeated Lyons twice to win the District Four tournament in Lyons.

Virtual student to play pro hockey

Stephen Suderman did not stand out from his high-school aged peers at Centre Virtual School orientation last week. The only hint of his athleticism was his 6-foot-4 height. However, the slim, shaggy-haired 18-year-old is not a typical high-schooler — he is taking virtual school classes so he can spend his nights practicing and playing professional hockey. He was drafted and signed by the Palm Beach Hawks, an Eastern Junior Hockey League team in Palm Beach, Fla.

Return to current issue