Marion County RECORD

Family braves hardships with autistic child

On any given day, walking into the Drow home is like walking into a swirling torrent, hurricane Adam already in progress. Four-year-old Adam Drow possesses boundless energy, usually sprinting from room to room. Any object in reach of his right hand becomes a projectile to be thrown.

For the love of over-priced chickens

It was staring at her, beckoning her to come closer — and each moment she tried to refuse, she knew she was losing a never-ending battle. Lucinda Murchinson grew up with a love for chickens — and it only became more evident as she matured and when she set up her own home. At age 71, Murchinson has more than 850 chicken figurines in her newly acquired residence at the county lake. She said she loves decorating with the birds — and wouldn’t give up a single one.

Police threat just a Facebook rumor

Most Facebook postings on the Marion County Swap Site pertain to clothing, vehicles, or other miscellaneous items for sale, but last week a posting about Marion County law enforcement personnel posing as loan collection officers set the Internet service abuzz. “I received a call from an unnamed person who reported they had been called by someone threatening to arrest them for defaulting on a loan,” Sheriff Deputy Wilma Mueller said. “Then I saw a similar posting on the Marion County Swap Site, which I am a member of, that said a Marion County officer had made the threat. But that was all wrong.”

Stout saves a million - for another county

When Evan Stout walks out of a room, he automatically shuts off the lights, even if it is a hallway at Marion County Road and Bridge staging office where he works, or the light over his oven at home in Marion. “After eight years of working as an energy manager, it is just habit for me,” Stout said. “I told my wife the other day, ‘I don’t think the oven is afraid of the dark. There is no reason for these extra lights to be on.’”

Kapaun walk participation swells

More than 150 people made the pilgrimage from Wichita to Pilsen. They started walking on Friday and ended the trek at about 1 p.m. on Sunday at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church. This year was the fifth annual Emil Kapaun pilgrimage. Scott Grim of Wichita has participated in the walk for four years.

Juanita Helmer

Juanita Grace (Gutsch) Helmer was born May 16, 1929, on a farm southwest of Burdick, Kan., in Marion County. She was the second of five children born to Carl and Dorotha (Peddycord) Gutsch. Soon after her birth, the family moved to a farm east of Antelope, Kan., and Juanita lived there until she married.

Richard Morse

Richard Roger “Dick” Morse, 69, of Springfield, Ill., died May 28 at St. John’s Hospital. He was born Feb. 24, 1944, in Pampa, Texas, to Roger H. and Marie (Stover) Morse. He grew up in Marion and graduated from Marion High School in 1962. He earned a bachelor’s degree in art history from Amherst College in Amherst, Mass., and a master’s degree in architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design in Cambridge, Mass. He married Nathela Chatara in 1973 in Ashland, Ill.

Glenna Newkirk

Glenna Jean Boydston Newkirk, 64, passed away May 31, 2013, in her home in Marion. A shared memorial service for Glenna and her mother, Julie A. Boydston, will be 11 a.m. Monday, June 24, at Eastmoor United Methodist Church in Marion. A memorial has been established for Eastmoor United Methodist Church and Harden Hospice Kansas.

Nancy Scandone

Nancy Scandone, 77, of Navarre, Fla., died April 29, 2013, in Pensacola, Fla. She was born in Marion, Kan., Oct. 19, 1935, to O.J. and Faye Allen. Nancy attended elementary school in Marion and graduated from Marion High School.

Charles D. Unruh

Charles David Unruh, 85, passed away on May 8, 2013, at Bethesda Home in Goessel. He was born March 19, 1928 in Newton the son of Bernhard “Ben” and Margaret Klassen Unruh. On January 24, 1953, he married Dora R. Goertzen at Tabor Mennonite Church. She survives of the home.

Accidents reported

Civil cases

County jail

Criminal cases

Deeds

Emergency dispatches

Hillsboro police

Marion police

Marriage licenses

Offenses

Peabody police

Traffic cases

Bluegrass concert opens summer lineup

There’s no shortage of entertainment this year at the Marion County Park and Lake. Bluegrass The KBA Treblemakers and the Alfred Packer Memorial String band will be at the 6th annual “Bluegrass At the Lake” two-day concert event, held at the county lake beach area. It is free to the public. There also will be an open stage from 6 to 8:30 p.m. June 14 and 4 to 6 p.m. June 15. The best performance will win the $100 grand prize. The Marion County Firefighters Association will provide concessions. MOPS Run

Guests love fishing, camping at lakes

On a Saturday afternoon with nothing to do, Lyle Brewer of Newton drove to Marion County Park and Lake with his wife. It was their first time visiting the lake. “I’ve heard about this place but never been here before,” Brewer said.

Chingawassa Days gives family fun a push

Chingawassa Days has several events that have become annual fixtures: concerts, barbecue, pancake feed, and chainsaw carving are just a few. “I don’t think it’s any secret that there are things we seem to have every year,” committee member Mike Powers said.

Angler spends free time trying for record

Todd Stultz has always wanted to break a record — and he wants to do it this year with fish. It all started at the age of 10. One early morning, his father woke him out of a sound slumber and took him out in a small fishing boat on an Oklahoma lake. And, he has never looked back. Ever since, he’s spent all of his free time fishing; it’s what he loves to do.

No horsin' around for college student

While most teenagers are serving fast food, working with harvest crews, or mowing grass for summertime employment, Alex Schmidt of rural Hillsboro works as part of a mule wagon team. “I love everything about it,” Schmidt, 18, said. “People always have a lot of questions about the mules, and it just seems to make their day when they get to ride in our wagon.”

Sports and arts facilities top-notch

When David Clark arrived at Marion High School to teach vocal music five years ago, he was greeted by the then-new USD 408 Performing Arts Center. Since then, the 550-seat auditorium has been the home of concerts, plays, musicals, school programs, assemblies, and community church services. Clark said having the facility elevated all of those performances.

One man's junk is another's store

Marion Ogden has been buying, selling, and collecting antiques since 1994 and he has not reached a limit yet on what catches his attention — and to him, none of it is junk. “If it is interesting and I like it, I buy it,” Ogden said. “I don’t necessarily put an age barrier on what I buy, but I know from experience some things are worth more than others if they are old.”

More patients staying in county

Rural health care has been facing a trend toward fewer inpatients and more outpatients, and St. Luke Hospital’s 2011 renovation and expansion was geared toward that fact. One of the biggest changes was the expansion of physical therapy facilities, which now include private treatment rooms and a therapy pool.

Art is just a stroll away in Marion

Toby Flores of Hays was one of the artists demonstrating his work during the third annual summer Art and Music Stroll Sunday in downtown Marion, blacksmithing behind Gallery 101’s sculpture garden with help from his son, Cooper. “We came just for this,” Flores said.

Artists, musicians share talents

The blisters and calluses covering Grant Charpentier’s palms and fingers were in sharp contrast to the sparkling glass roses, bowls, and plates he offered for sale Sunday at Marion’s Art and Music Stroll. Charpentier, a glass blower from Emporia, displayed his art in front of Flint Hills Gold at Third and Main streets and visited with those who stopped to admire his work.

County waits for tax sale of motel

Marion County Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman told county commissioners that there is an out-of-state buyer interested in the Florence motel. She said she has talked with him at least every month for the past year and wanted to know what was the commission’s plan for the building.

County stuck on dirt roads

Half a mile away from Gary Diepenbrock’s house, on Vista Road northwest of Lincolnville, there is stretch of dirt road that was mired with four mud holes after recent rains. Three vehicles were stuck over a two-day period. “With the conditions our back roads are getting in, it’s to the point where blading them is not the answer,” Diepenbrock said. “I think some will be impassible before too long.”

Development chief knows goals will come in phases

Roger Holter understands that business can move at a geological pace. Like the shifting of fault lines, it happens below the surface and takes lots of time. Holter worked in retail for 40 years — as a store manager, general manger, and regional manager. He’s dealt with permits and zoning issues. He’s taken the steps to build financial plans, establishing a budget, timeline, and return. He’s gone through the phases to take an empty plot of ground and replace it with a Lowe’s in a year — wading through a river of inspections, zoning, advertising, and construction contractors.

Part 8 of serialization

Priest takes an academic interim

“First I wish to thank you for the appointment as administrator pro tem of St. John’s Parish, Spearville. “Yesterday I received my discharge from the Army (July 25). I am now able to submit my application for the G.I. educational benefit, to attend school this September at Catholic University.

Juvenile politics

It’s understandable why so many area young people decided they would rather play sports every week this summer than set aside a few days to learn about civics at Boys and Girls State. It’s not that sports have become more popular than civics. It’s that what passes for civics has become little more than sport.

It takes a village

I received a phone call from my son-in-law one morning. My daughter, three months from her due date, was at the emergency room. I was out for my morning walk when I received the call and, like any grandma would do, I hailed down the first car that went past me. Thank God it was my friend, Cynthia Barrett. She rushed me to my vehicle and I hurried to the hospital where Don Hodson was examining Nikki. Her umbilical cord had detached, and ready or not, we had a baby on the way.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

BALANCING ACT:

Business ownners bemoan loss of tournament

The loss of the Summer Kick Mid-America Youth Basketball tournament to Marion County has inspired a negative reaction by Marion business owners. “That’s horrible,” Cindy’s Family Café owner Cindy Taylor said. “We need to fight that.”

Benefit planned for tornado victims

St. Luke Living Center residents will have a benefit taco salad lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 12 to provide aid to the victims of the Moore, Okla., tornado. The lunch will be in the clinic basement at 537 S. Freeborn St., Marion.

Reading program set for June, July

The “Dig Into Reading” program at the Marion City Library will start in June. Children, preschool age to eighth grade, have the opportunity to read books and win prizes. The program starts June 17 and will run through July 12. Two storytimes will also be offered during the summer. For ages three to five, there will be a storytime sessions every Friday, from 10 to 10:30 a.m. and 11 to 11:30 a.m. Those interested must pre-enroll.

4-H Food Fest is Saturday

Marion County 4-H’ers will have their annual creative table setting and menu-planning contest from 9 to 10:30 a.m. June 8 at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro. Contact Nancy Pihl at (620) 382-2325 for more information.

Conservation stewardship applications due June 14

The deadline for applications to participate in the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Conservation Stewardship Program has been extended to June 14.

Chat and dine is Saturday

Chat and Dine Potluck Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. June 8 in the county lake hall. Grace Yoder will present aprogram on her recent trip to the Ukraine.

Stika to celebrate 80th

Anna Mae Stika of Tampa will be 80 years old June 26. A family celebration is planned. She was born in Ramona and lived there all of her life until she and her husband, Frank, moved to Tampa in 2000.

Tournament raised money for cancer patients

The fourth annual Golf for the Girls golf tournament was Saturday at Marion Country Club, and it raised $7,900 for breast cancer patients. Organizer Tamara Christiansen said 72 people played in the tournament. Proceeds from the first tournament were given to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, but Christiansen is working to establish a local foundation to assist families with the expenses of treating breast cancer.

ANNIVERSARY:

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ENGAGEMENT:

MEMORIES:

TEEN meeting is June 19

The Technology Excellence in Education Network will hold its regular board meeting 6 p.m. June 19 at the Marion District Office, 101 N. Thorp St., Marion. For more information, contact Brandi Hendrix at (620) 877-0237

Centre superintendent takes tech job

An action that surprised many Centre school district constituents occurred May 28, when the board of education accepted the resignation of Jerri Kemble as K-12 principal and superintendent, effective June 30. Board member Steve Jirak was opposed in the 6-1 vote. He said later that Kemble had another year left on her contract and, although not legally bound, she should have lived up to her word.

FFA wraps up busy season

Centre FFA member Carrie Carlson was elected as the Kansas FFA State Vice President. She will serve the next year with the Kansas FFA Association and its members May 29 at the state FFA convention in Manhattan Winners of the Kansas Association of Agriculture Educators Essay Contest were announced. Makenzie Deines placed first and received $125. Kevin Lewis placed ninth.

2 Warriors on all-state baseball team

Marion juniors Grif Case and Taylor Heidebrecht were selected by baseball coaches from across the state to be honored as part of the 3A all-state baseball team. Case was honored as an outfielder and Heidebrecht was honored as a first baseman. Both were named to the second team. The all-state team was selected before the state tournament.

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