HEADLINES

  • Why is question after theft

    A week after an overnight burglary at the HUB youth center in downtown Peabody, co-founder Doe Ann Hague still is shaking her head in disbelief and wondering why it happened. “Yes, they got cash and computers and flat screen TVs,” she said. “They can spend the cash, but the computers can only be used with the HUB’s dedicated network, the TVs were six years old, and the computer games, CDs, and such were things the kids used all the time, but they really have little resale value.”

  • Burns set sights on health center

    The Burns City Council approved the use of the former Redbrick Café building and adjacent land on Oct. 9. Marion County Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman presented a plan for a healthy foods center with a certified kitchen, a community garden, one-day a week food pantry, and an art and learning center in Burns.

  • Donation paid for fairground improvements

    Several businesses recently made a cooperative donation of $4,000 to the Marion County Fair Association, and fair association president Chuck McLinden said the money went to good use. “What we did was use that money to pay for improvements in the rabbit and poultry barn,” McLinden said. “Specifically we put vents in the roof to allow the air to flow through better.”

DEATHS

  • Helene Brunner

    Helene E. Brunner, 93, of Herington, formerly of rural Burdick, died Saturday at home. She was born Oct. 2, 1919, in Wichita to Ernst and Minna (Pigorsch) Domann. She was a homemaker and a telephone operator at the Burdick Switchboard Office and later retired from Helen’s Christian Bookstore, Herington. She was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Herington.

  • John D. Ellis

    John D. “Dan” Ellis, 65, of Peabody died Oct. 9 at Peabody Care Center. He was born April 28, 1947, in San Antonio, Texas, to Theodore and Lillian Maltbie Ellis.

  • Julie Ann Lake

    Julie Ann Lake, 62, of Flower Mound, Texas, passed away Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012, following a courageous battle with cancer. Julie was born Oct. 4, 1950, in Hillsboro, Kan., to Walter and Lois Lake. She worked for Boeing/Labinal as an assembly technician for 15 years. Growing up Julie enjoyed camping, water skiing and playing lots of softball. Julie graduated from Peabody High School, Peabody, Kan., in 1968 and attended Brown Mackie Business College in Salina, Kan. She started her working career in Wichita, Kan., for the CPA firm Elmer Fox. She even tried her hand with an art and framing business in Newton, Kan. She biked across Kansas the summer of 1979. Julie and Geri moved to Flower Mound in April 1995 from Wichita.

  • Troy Scott Watts

    Troy Scott Watts, 41, died Oct. 8 at Via Christi-St. Francis Medical Center in Wichita. He was born Sept. 4, 1971, to Larry Watts and Sandra Sebree Watts in Newton. He worked as a carpenter.

DOCKET

GOVERNMENT

  • Bond will save city money

    A $2.2 million bond issue approved Monday by the Marion City Council to refinance outstanding loans and pay for work on the flood control levee will save the city almost half a million dollars. The $232,000 levee assessment, a requirement for the levee to be accredited by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and refinancing were studied and discussed extensively in prior meetings, so little discussion was necessary as the council approved the procedural measures to issue the bonds.

  • Commission amends zoning rule suggestions

    Marion County Planning and Zoning Director Tonya Richards brought the county commission recommended zoning regulation changes on Monday. There were two changes suggested by the Planning and Zoning Board. The first was to allow existing parcels to be landlocked between properties owned by other owners as long as there is an easement that provides utility and road access to a residence.

  • FSA offers drought assistance

    A serious lack of moisture that extended over the summer season has caused producers in Marion County to suffer from the effects of exceptional drought conditions. Farms and ranches experiencing these conditions may be eligible for cost-share financial assistance under U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Conservation Program — Drought Measures provision. This special disaster support program is administered by the Farm Service Agency and will provide benefit payments if damages are so severe that water available for livestock, orchards, or vineyards has been reduced below normal to the extent that neither can survive without additional water. Producers may file an application from Monday through Nov. 15 at their local the USDA Farm Service Agency office at 301 Eisenhower Drive, Marion. Damages incurred by producers must be of such a magnitude that it would be too costly to rehabilitate without federal assistance.

  • County decides against buying asphalt recycler

    After an hour-long discussion, Marion County Commission decided against purchasing the 2008 Van Keppel asphalt recycler that the Road and Bridge Department previously rented. With the 2013 budget already approved, commissioners said that there was no way the county could start payments until the beginning of next year. The bid from Van Keppel was $4,432 a month over four years of payments or $3,588 a month over five years of payments. The cost to purchase the machine was about $200,000.

  • Cities agree to local control of incentive funds

    The Kansas Department of Commerce announced Monday that the department has agreed with state Main Street cities to transition the Kansas Main Street program to local control. This agreement comes on the heels of an announcement Sept. 20 by the Department of Commerce that it was ending the Main Street program at the state level because of expected smaller state and federal budgets moving forward.

HEALTH

  • Ensey continues health care legacy

    When St. Luke Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Jeremy Ensey slipped into the chair behind his desk on the first day of his job Oct. 10, it’s understandable if the sense of coming full-circle hit him not once, but twice. “He was born here at St. Luke,” said retired Marion doctor T.C. Ensey, Jeremy’s grandfather. “His mother, I delivered her and her two sisters, and I delivered three of my grandsons she produced.”

  • Family stakes health on raw milk

    There are two reasons why Betsy Walker and her family of rural Hillsboro like to drink raw milk. First, they believe it is healthier; and second, at $2.50 per gallon locally, it is an economical choice for their food budget. “We like to eat and drink things that are as close to their original state as possible,” Walker said. “That is how God designed it for us and it is best for our bodies that way.”

  • St. Luke Foundation to host dinner

    The St. Luke Foundation will have a benefit dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Marion Community Center. The “Autumn Evening Benefit” is a dinner by donation with entertainment by the Sisters of Hope and a silent auction.

  • Blood donors give for different reasons

    Aldina Franz and Shirley Kasper of Hillsboro are good friends. They see each other often at church and community functions. They also see each other at almost every blood drive that comes to town, and both were on hand Thursday to help the American Red Cross reach a goal of 50 donors at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. “I try to donate every 56 days, or whenever they come to Hillsboro,” Franz said. “I feel like it’s my opportunity to help someone.”

  • Eyes can be cues for health problems

    It can be easy at times to overlook vision problems, but nobody should ignore a change in their vision, especially a sudden change, optometrist Zach Unruh of Mid Kansas Eyecare in Hillsboro said. “The danger in vision problems is ignoring them, because they can indicate systemic problems that can be taken care of if you don’t ignore them,” Unruh said.

  • Pihl to offer Medicare assistance

    Nancy Pihl, county extension agent and counselor with Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas, is offering assistance in reviewing and enrolling senior citizens in a Medicare part D plan for 2013. People interested may call (620) 382-2325 to schedule an appointment. People will need to bring their Medicare cards and lists of current medications, dosages, and times taken per day.

OPINION

  • Value in public service

    Jana Nordquist, Brenda Odgers, and Dick Varenhorst deserve credit for volunteering time and energy as USD 408 looked for someone to fill a vacancy on the Board of Education left by the departure of Keith Collett. It takes a very community-minded person to offer their time as a school board member — not just in meetings, but preparing for meetings and when a member of the community just wants to talk about school issues. The board’s decision to not select one of those candidates for the vacancy shouldn’t be taken as a reflection that there is anything wrong with any of the candidates. Nordquist is a mother with several school-aged children, and parents provide a vital voice in education, because they know what students are saying about school when they get home. Odgers has a strong education background as a teacher and administrator, including as principal at Marion High School, so she knows about the challenges schools face. Varenhorst has a teaching background as well, and a track record that shows great interest in public affairs.

  • Aiming for clarity

    It seems my editorial last week came across as critical of the Marion, Centre, and Peabody-Burns school districts, when it wasn’t meant to be. But when multiple people get the wrong impression from an editorial, it’s possible the problem was with the editorial and not the reader. So here it is, take two. All of the school districts locally are working hard to accomplish the goals set for them by the state and federal government. You can’t fault them for that. But you can fault the state and federal goal-setters for choosing goals that won’t prepare students for education after high school — something that is becoming increasingly necessary for students to find prosperity later in life. Despite that need, federal education standards don’t include standards for college-readiness.

  • They think I'm crazy

    If you ask my kids to describe me, they will probably tell you I’m a bit crazy. But, if you ask me, I’m not crazy, I’m just a mom. OK, so maybe I am a little bit crazy — about my kids.

  • Too much to talk about

    What to write? Sometimes there is nothing specific to write about yet I feel like I should write something. Then there are other times that there is so much to write about I have trouble narrowing it down to a single topic. The latter is where I find myself as I sit down with my laptop. Adam Stewart’s latest editorial ruffled feathers, including my own. Usually the best way to make a point is not to dismiss your readers with your first sentence. I’ll confess that after reading his first sentence it took me a few hours before I revisited his column to see what content was there. As a school board member, I could write about the results of our latest meeting as covered by the paper. I was disappointed to see the headline covered the vacant position and not the new anti-bullying initiative the elementary and middle schools are implementing in January or the content of the School Improvement Plans that all three buildings reported based on their test results and future expectations. Those were both buried after the vacancy write-up and they were off the front page.

  • BALANCING ACT:

    I gave blood and survived
  • LETTERS:

    City boards set good example

OTHER NEWS

  • Charity Halloween event returns

    “Scary” Larry Zieammermann and friends are preparing a Halloween event Oct. 26 for charity for the seventh year in a row. This year’s event will raise funds for Marion County Community Christmas, a program to provide needy families with a Christmas meal and presents for children. This year, Larry will be joined by Denise Crabb’s “Little Demons” and “Crazy” Charlie Nordstrom.

  • PHS class donates to youth center

    The Peabody High School class of 1965 enjoyed a “half” reunion (47.5 years) on Oct. 13 at a restaurant in Newton. The group voted to donate $100 of the class fund to the HUB in Peabody after hearing of the theft of cash, computers, games, and televisions Oct. 9.

  • KSU marathon club running relay across state

    The Kansas State University Marathon Club is running a relay in marathon-sized segments Friday through Sunday across Kansas, starting at the Nebraska border and running south to the Oklahoma border. Nine runners will each run 26 miles to complete the total of 232-mile journey. The route includes running through Washington, Clay Center, Abilene, Newton, Wichita, Haysville, and Wellington.

  • Jugglers coming to McPherson

    “The Passing Zone” with John Wee and Owen Morse is coming to the McPherson Opera House 7:30 p.m. Friday. “The Passing Zone” has been awarded five Guinness World Records and 18 gold medals from the International Juggler’s Association. They recently were presented with that organization’s Award of Excellence, the most prestigious award in juggling. The award has been given to only 13 acts worldwide since the organization’s inception.

  • Happy Hustlers 4-H Club meets Oct. 7

    The October meeting of the Happy Hustlers 4-H Club was Oct. 7 at the Foods Building on the Marion County Fairgrounds. President Cade Harms called the meeting to order and roll call was answered by 19 members, two leaders, seven parents, and one guest. Secretary Cara Martin read the minutes from the last meeting. Payton Harms gave the treasurer’s report. Council Representatives Elizabeth Meyer and Nicholas Meyer spoke about the upcoming Achievement Banquet planned for Nov. 2. The club voted to be responsible for the flag raising ceremony at the Marion High School football game on Oct. 12 in honor of 4-H week. The meeting concluded with Cassie Meyer leading the group in two songs.

PEOPLE

  • Colburn takes Head Start position

    David Colburn of Marion has accepted an offer to become the director of program services for Spokane County Head Start/Early Head Start in Spokane, Wash. Colburn, a 1976 graduate of Marion High School, earned a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis and early childhood education from the University of Kansas in 1985. He was a professor of early childhood for nine years at community colleges in Dodge City, Glen Ellyn, Ill., and St. Louis, Mo.

  • 'An extra-long life isn't fair'

    Clara Bredemeier of Marion has no idea why she has lived to such a ripe, old age. She turned 105 on Tuesday. “It is in God’s power,” she said. “I don’t think it’s fair because He will take little kids and babies and let me live. When He calls me, I will shake His hand and say, ‘You didn’t treat us right. You took the young ones and left an old one like me.”’

  • Waswicks report on trip

    Pat and Bill Waswick gave a program about their trip to Dominican Republic to the Neo-Century Club on Oct. 1. At least 18 members attended the meeting at Hilltop Manor. Virginia Heerey and Bea Kelsey provided refreshments and decorations with an autumn theme.

  • Historian to discuss settlements

    Local historian, tour guide, and Goessel schoolteacher Brian Stucky will share his research and recent findings on American Indians, early settlers, and Marion County trails Friday at Lifelong Learning. The session will be at 9:45 a.m. in the Tabor College Wolgemuth Music Education Center in Hillsboro. During the summer of 2010, Stucky hosted a workshop on early trails running through Marion County, funded by the National Park Service and the Oregon California Trail Association.

  • Marion County seniors to meet Oct. 18

    The Senior Citizens of Marion County Board will hold its annual meeting at noon on Oct. 18 the Hillsboro Senior Center in Hillsboro. The SCMC board will be recognizing WWII and Korean War veterans. Loyd Brewer and John Topham will represent Peabody Senior Center. Peppernut baking continues through October and into November at Peabody Senior Center. Volunteers are needed each Monday and Thursday after the noon lunch is served to mix, sort, and bake the cookies.

  • CORRESPONDENTS:

    Marion Senior Center, Tampa
  • MEMORIES:

    10, 25, 35, 50, 60, 100, 125 years ago
  • WEDDING:

    Logan, Jilka

SCHOOL

  • Centre school board holds special session

    After 80 minutes in executive session in a special meeting Monday — partly with Superintendent Jerri Kemble and partly with board clerk Peggy Falen — the Centre USD 397 Board of Education took several personnel actions in open meeting. They accepted the resignation of Sharon Simons as board clerk trainee and reassigned kindergarten-through-12th-grade secretary Tracy Alt as the new board clerk trainee. She will be paid $12 an hour while in training. Her performance will be evaluated at the Nov. 12 meeting.

  • Hot-air balloon rides precede special week at Centre

    A sunny, windless Monday morning provided the perfect conditions for hot-air balloon rides at Centre USD 397 schools. The multicolored balloon rose high above the treetops and could be seen by travelers on U.S. 56/77. It was provided by Great Plains Balloon Club of Topeka. Students were paired with buddies and divided into four groups to ride in small bunches in the wicker basket attached to the balloon. The balloon was tethered to several vehicles and reached a height of 30 feet during flight before settling back to the ground.

  • Marion Elementary School celebrates anti-bullying week

    Marion Elementary School celebrated anti-bullying week from Oct. 1 through 9. Events started when students wrote anti-bullying messages in chalk Oct. 1 on sidewalks in front of the USD 408 Sports and Aquatics Center, MES, and Central Park. Students and staff formed a peace sign on school grounds and a teacher took an aerial photograph.

SPORTS

  • Marion demolishes Halstead 40-22

    Neither a water-logged field nor the Halstead defense could slow down the Marion High School rushing attack Friday, as the Warriors rolled up 325 yards and 6 touchdowns to slay the visiting Dragons, 40-22, at Warriors Stadium. Marion took the momentum on Halstead’s opening drive when the Dragons gambled on fourth-and-1 at their own 29-yard line. Quarterback Jonah McKee never got out of the backfield, as Warriors Evan Slater, Spencer Fugitt, Kyle Hett, and Morgan Wheeler downed him for a 3-yard loss.

  • Lady Warriors' volleyball struggles

    Every match for the sixth seed in a six-team volleyball tournament is an opportunity to pull off an upset. Marion was the sixth seed Saturday in the Heart of America League tournament in Sedgwick, but there were no fairytale endings, as the Lady Warriors came out on the losing end of all five matches they played.

  • Centre volleyball places second in league

    The Centre High School volleyball team emerged undefeated from pool play Saturday and went on to take second place in the Wheat State League Tournament at Peabody. They defeated Solomon, 25-19 and 25-13, Hope, 25-13 and 25-18, and Peabody-Burns, 25-19 and 25-20.

  • CHS football team dominates Hartford

    In a district game played at home Friday, the Centre High School Cougars defeated Hartford, 46-0, in a shortened game because of the 45-point rule. Justin Deines and Houston Svoboda scored first-quarter touchdowns on passes from Kyle Methvin. Dakota Stimpson and Svoboda scored conversion points on passes from Deines.

  • Marion cross-country team finishes 3rd

    Three Marion High School boys’ cross-country runners clocked personal best times Thursday as the Warriors placed third in the Heart of America League meet at Bennington. The Warrirors tied Bennington for second place with 69 points, but lost the tie-breaker.

MORE…

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