Marion County RECORD

Hairdresser overcomes stroke to cut again

More than two years ago, Laura Robinson sold all of her hair dressing equipment; effectively, she was retired. The skillful control she had developed over a 40-year career was gone in an instant. This sad reality was only a memory on Tuesday as she cut a customer’s hair. Her hands worked in concert as she rotated around the wooly canvas. The right delivered the strokes, a flutter of quick cuts through thick brown hair. The left was the guide, holding the now shortened strands with a steady grip.

Hunting brings people together

The regular firearm season for deer hunting begins today and continues through Dec. 9, and Steve Hett of rural Marion is preparing to welcome friends from the coasts for a hunt. Hett has been hunting most of his life, beginning with father-son rabbit hunts when he was young.

Author to speak to children

Author Shana Rothrock will meet with children Sunday to speak about writing. Rothrock recently completed her first book, “Wadsworth: A Prairie Dog Adventure,” and began work on its first sequel, “Wadsworth: Jonathan’s Journey.” Her first book is 148 pages and intended for readers ages 7 to 12. The books are based on a prairie dog colony at Standley Lake, Colo., and many major characters are based on Rothrock’s family and friends.

Tunnel of Lights is Sunday at lake

The annual Christmas Tunnel of Lights at Marion County Lake will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday. The route features decorated homes and acres of Christmas lights and scenes. This year the event will add decorations on lake shelters and the heated fishing dock. Featured decoations include lighted reindeer grazing among twinkling lights, Rudolph pulling Santa’s sleigh over the water, a 40-foot Christmas tree decorated in large balls and lights, five acres full of beautiful lights and animated figures, a Nativity scene, and the tunnel of lights itself.

Drought creates problems, opportunities at lakes

Low water levels at Marion Reservoir and Marion County Lake caused by ongoing drought have caused problems at both lakes, but the low water is also creating opportunities not normally present. Marion County Lake is about 5 feet below normal pool, Park and Lake Superintendent Steve Hudson said Monday. So far, the biggest problem at the county lake is the reduced recreational area, he said. If the lake stays at its current level, there won’t be as much room for boaters next summer.

Nova L. Bruner

Nova L. Bruner, 75, died Tuesday at St. Luke Hospital, Marion. Services are pending with Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion.

Gustav 'Gus' Hiebert

Gustav “Gus” Hiebert, 88, of Little River, died Tuesday at Sandstone Heights Nursing Home, Little River. He was a retired construction worker and backhoe operator. He was born May 23, 1924, in Goessel to Peter and Sara (Schmidt) Hiebert. He married Opal E. (Morgan) Hunley on July 3, 1965, in Huntsville, Ark. She preceded him in death on July 23, 1982.

Lila Hoffman

Lila Hoffman, 91, of Marion died Nov. 24 at her home. She was born Lila Annette Link on Nov. 20, 1921, to Christian and Mollie Link near Okeene, Okla. She graduated from Okeene High School. She moved to Wichita after graduation and was employed by Boeing Airplane Company.

Marvin Lemons

Marvin Lemons, 63, of Peabody died Nov. 20 in Wichita. He was born July 3, 1949, in Columbus. He was a welder. He married Linda Lemons on April 2, 1971. She survives in Peabody. He is also survived by two sons, James Lemons of Heston and Richard Lemons of Atchison; and a daughter, Kristy Newsome of Newton.

Judith Malin

Judith Malin, 66, died Thursday at Salem Home in Hillsboro. She was born May 18, 1946, in Hampton, Iowa, to the Rev. Arthur W. Malin and Helen Betty (Jost) Malin.

Evelyn Mae Ollenberger

SALINA — Evelyn Mae Ollenberger, 93, of Salina, completed her journey to heaven on November 24, 2012. Evelyn was born in Durham, Kan., on Nov. 24, 1919. Survivors include her husband of 72 years, Leslie; her daughter, Rosemary Hawver of Charlotte, N.C.; daughter, Sydney Teeter of San Diego, Calif.; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Eleanor L. Otte

Eleanor L. Otte, 85, of Herington died Sunday at Rolling Hills Care Facility, Topeka. She was born May 6, 1927, at Burdick to J. Emmett and Eva (Beougher) Train. She was a homemaker and worked at Beech Aircraft in Salina and Herington Hospital. She graduated from Diamond Valley High School in 1945.

Roberta M. Seibel

Roberta M. Seibel, 79, died Saturday at her granddaughter’s home in Olpe. She was born July 4, 1933, in Wichita to Wilbur W. and Cora (Fitch) Carpenter. She was a member of and baptized at First Christian Church in Peabody. She graduated from Peabody High School in 1951.

Edward W. Svitak

Edward W. “Ed” Svitak was born Nov. 2, 1917, to Rudolph and Josephine Vinduska Svitak at the family farm near Pilsen. He was raised in the Pilsen community and spent his entire life there. Being born into a farming family, it was only natural that Ed developed a strong work ethic. He worked the farm with his father and brothers and operated the family trucking business, “Svitak and Sons.” As the years passed, that work ethic and passion for farming was passed down through the generations.

Accidents reported

Civil cases

County jail

Criminal cases

Deeds

Emergency dispatches

Marion police

Offenses

Peabody police

Commission meets behind closed doors

Marion County Commission had a short meeting Monday, but more than one-third of it was spent in closed session. Commissioners spent 10 minutes in executive session with Sheriff Robert Craft, 15 minutes with Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman, and 10 minutes with only the commission present, all to discuss personnel issues, and none with any public action taken.

Council rejects mayor appointment

Marion City Council voted against an appointment to Marion Planning Commission by Mayor Mary Olson. Council members Chris Meierhoff, Jerry Dieter, and Todd Heitschmidt voted against Olson’s proposal of Diane Holub. Olson said Holub would provide an equally levelheaded replacement for Dusty Hett.

City gives landowners permission to demolish

Marion City Council approved a 45-day period to allow new landowners to demolish a derelict building at 700 N. Cedar St. Bryan Grosse and Chris Helmer purchased the property from Pat Bernhardt and signed an agreement to demolish the building on Nov. 19.

Engineering contract for levee work approved

Marion City Council approved a contract with Wilson and Company Inc. Engineers and Architects to conduct engineering services for Cottonwood Valley River levee. The engineering services are necessary to ensure that the dam meets Federal Emergency Management Agency specifications. The company listed 14 service items including updating river hydrologic and hydraulic models of the Cottonwood River and collecting and evaluating video inspections of the drainage structures to verify structural integrity.

People get in the spirit of giving

The first week of nominations for Hoch Publishing Company’s donation of $1,000 to one or more local charities, families, or individuals generated eight nominations. I was a bit surprised that most of the nominations were for individuals and families, rather than charity organizations, but all of the nominations were for very good reasons.

Some pain may be needed

When was the last time you did something that made you so nervous your stomach was tied up into one giant knot? When was the last time that you did something even though it scared you? When was the last time that you knew you wanted to do something even though you knew that pain wasn’t only a chance, it was a guarantee? As I write this, I can’t think of the last time that I did something that met all of those circumstances. However, on Black Friday I witnessed my daughter do something that did meet all these circumstances. After lunch on Friday, Sadie entered a store in Towne East mall in Wichita and she got her ears pierced.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

ONE WOMAN'S VIEW:

Bus going to live Nativity

Wildcat Creek Ranch, rural Peabody, will have a live Nativity scene Saturday evening. The Marion County tour bus will take a group to the live Nativity from the parking lot across from Webster Auto Service in Marion. Anyone wishing to ride the bus from Marion should contact Marion County Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman at (620) 382-8830.

Deck the halls safely

Safe Kids Kansas reminds parents and caregivers to take a few precautions when decorating for Christmas and other winter festivities. Holiday decorations, especially candles and electrical lighting, can be a fire hazard. Never leave a lighted Christmas tree or other lighting unattended. Inspect lights for exposed wires, loose connections and broken sockets. Do not overload outlets and do not run electrical cord under rugs.

Blood drive is Dec. 7 in Hillsboro

A Red Cross blood drive will be 1 to 6 p.m. Dec. 7 at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro. Blood donations are needed during the holiday season because of natural disasters and surgeries.

Messiah to be performed in Hillsboro

Tabor College’s long-standing Christmas tradition of performing “Messiah” by George Fredrick Handel about the anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ will continue on Sunday with a performance by Tabor College Oratorio Chorus, Alumni Chorus, and Tabor’s Community Orchestra. The production will be at 7 p.m. at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, 300 Prairie Point, in Hillsboro. Admission is free and open to the public.

Hetts hold Thanksgiving

The Hett family annual Thanksgiving dinner was in the Aulne Church Fellowship Hall. Those attending were Willard Hett; Clifford and Evelyn Hett; Troy, Eileen, Noah, and Ruby Schmidt; Neil Hett; Janet and Bruce Plank, Calvin, Monica, Amy, Elizabeth, Taylor, Isabel, Samuel, and Owen; Jim and Carol Hett; Rob Hett, Valeree and Bryden; Tim Hett; Bill and Debbi Darrow; Jared, Natalie and Easton Hett; Eldon and Rhonda Hett; Dave and Michelle, Katie and Phebe Hett; Albert and Shawnna, Caleigh, Carlynn Jonson; Keith and Betty Unruh, Max and Grace; Torey Hett; Rocky and Wendy Hett; Dawn and Don Hett, Quint, Jeremy, and Alli; Gary and Barbara Alleven, Garrett, Cade and Will; Denise and Stan Hett; Steve Hett; Ken, Melinda and Leslie Helmer; Tim and Lauren Hartland; Melanie and Larry Ensey; Julie and Aaron; Joel Ensey; and Jackie Hett.

Wiens family gathers

The Wiens family gathered together Sunday for a Thanksgiving celebration. Those attending from Marion were MaryAnn Wiens; Gerald and Jan Wiens; Jennifer, Emily, Jack, and Ben Schneider and guest Sam Minnick of Leon; Joni and Jim Crofoot; Janice and Don Hodson; Jeff, Erica, and Noah Richmond; Lindsey Richmond; Bryan and Jace Grosse; and Loreen and Jerry Hett and Eli.

Padgett Thanksgiving held Sunday

The Padgett family had Thanksgiving dinner Sunday at the community room of Carriage Manor in Florence. Those attending were Tari Malmgren of Heath, Texas, Jerry and Edna Malmgren of Overland Park, Randy Hamm of Leawood, Gus and Mildred Hamm of Hillsboro, Mike and Shelly Padgett with Camden and Connor of Hillsboro, Craig and Pat Wilson of Mulvane, Jim Padgett and Autumn, Joyce Padgett, and Betty Ireland all of Florence.

Braun family to present program

Jon and Christi Braun and their seven children will present a program of music and sharing Friday at Lifelong Learning. The program begins at 9:45 a.m. and will be held in the Tabor College Wohlgemuth Music Education Center. In 2010, the Brauns adopted four siblings from an orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which were welcomed home by three of their own children. Jon is a commercial airline pilot based in Texas. He is the son of Jack and LaVerna Braun, longtime Tabor College employees and Hillsboro residents.

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MEMORIES:

Marion FFA participates in cattle judging

Members of the Marion/Florence FFA Chapter received third place on Nov. 19 in the Greenhand division at the South Central District FFA Dairy Cattle Evaluation Career Development Event. The contest was hosted by the Hillsboro FFA Chapter at the Marion County Fairgrounds. Contest participants were required to evaluate and place six classes of dairy cows and heifers. They also had to prepare and present a set of oral reasons as well.

Geography Bee is Dec. 7

Marion Elementary School will have its annual geography bee at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 7 in the MES gymnasium. The bee is open to the public.

NHS sells Christmas ornaments

One of the booths at the Alternative gift market on Nov. 10 was Marion High School National Honor Society selling Christmas ornaments. NHS members are Isaac Baldwin, Ryan Nelson, Spencer Fugitt, Dylan Goebel, Erin Meierhoff, Elizabeth Goentzel, Katey Ehrlich, Clark Kroupa, Clinton Kroupa, Aaron Mollker, Kaelyn Thierolf, Lauren McLinden, Megan Richmond, Nick Meyer, Zach Robson, and Amanda Stuchlik. Sponsor Lisa Johnson said the students took time whenever they could to work on the glass ornaments that featured swirls of paint in the interior.

Tabor band to perform

The Tabor College Symphonic Band and Chamber Strings will present a concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, 300 Prairie Pointe. The theme for the concert is “Lauda” which is Latin for “praise.” The band and strings will each perform and then come together for an orchestral finale.

Centre to play in pre-season tourney

After season-openers Friday at home against St. Xavier, the Centre High School basketball teams will play in a six-team pre-season tournament next week at Herington High School. Centre girls will play Herington at 6:45 p.m. and Centre boys will play Herington at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday.

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