BREAKING NEWS
UPDATED AFTER PRINT DEADLINE
Special prosecutors appointed to file final charges related to a party July 12 at the home of Marion High School principal Tod Gordon filed four charges against Gordon’s daughter.
Whitney Dawn Gordon, a 2012 MHS graduate who now is a scholarship basketball player at the University of Wyoming, has been charged with:
For the first time since June 14, the Marion Reservoir is without a blue-green algae warning or advisory.
All water activity, including direct contact such as swimming, is safe and encouraged.
EARLIER STORY:
Algae likely to linger, but there is hope for reservoir
Local hospitals are wary of Newton Medical Center’s plans to open a clinic on the east edge of Hillsboro.
President and CEO Steve Kelly confirmed Monday that the hospital plans to purchase and demolish Hillcrest Motel at 808 E. D St. and replace it with a family practice clinic.
Marion City Council sent city staff back to the drawing board Monday with instructions to revise a draft that included a 2.3 mill, or $23,748, tax increase. The increase would have amounted to about $22 a year for a typical $85,000 home.
Councilman Jerry Kline expressed concerns raising taxes to purchase equipment.
Last year’s animosity over a radio tower at the new county jail resurfaced Monday as city and county officials discussed cooperating, probably next year, to rebuild sections of South Fourth Street damaged by construction.
“I really hope things work out a lot better than they did on the last project with that thing sticking up out there — the tower,” County Commissioner Randy Dallke said, gesturing toward the jail.
Marion County’s plans to raze its former jail by year’s end may have hit a snag.
Environmental health director Tonya Richards confirmed Monday that all six tests she performed on insulation from ducts in the old jail were positive for asbestos.
Marion County unveiled its new mapping and aerial photography system in training sessions Thursday and Friday.
Pictometry International Corp. updated aerial photos of the county and installed them in its Pictometry Online system earlier this year after county commissioners approved paying $119,000 over three years for the service.
Sheriff Rob Craft, deputy Jim Philpott, 911 supervisor Linda Klenda, and Hillsboro Fire Chief Ben Steketee told county commissioners Tuesday about their hopes for a new emergency manager.
Steketee said fire chiefs from across the county met recently and discussed the position.
Although it stands to lose as much as $30,000 in back taxes on the property, Marion County will require a minimum bid of only $5,000 when a former Florence motel is auctioned off at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Courthouse.
Commissioner Dan Holub and Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman expressed concern about what they regarded as a low minimum bid.
There is something other than humidity in air. The Marion County Fair is here.
The annual parade will kick off at tonight at 6 p.m. The theme will be “Boots and Bling.”
Susie McEntire entertained a Marion County Fair crowd of nearly 450 Sunday at USD 408’s Sports and Aquatic Center in Marion.
“I was very impressed about the numbers who were there for the type of event that it was,” said, Marion Mayor, Mary Olson.
Kids and dogs from around the county competed Saturday at the 4-H dog show that kicked off Marion County fair-week at the Hillsboro Fair Grounds.
Participants competed in three events, agility, showmanship, and obedience.
Though they are only 11 and 9, sisters Aubrey and Kalea Craig of Florence are no strangers to the Marion County Fair. Each has competed in different events in years past.
“I mainly compete in quilting,” Aubrey said.
Emily and Madeline Meier are sisters from Goessel. Both are 13, and each is the other’s mirror image. They are twins.
Both raised livestock for the Marion County Fair this year. Each have steers in different categories. However, both raised charolais heifers that will compete in the same category.
Florence High School graduate Harold Michael “Mike” Huntley, 69, of Newton, died Monday at Newton Medical Center.
He was born May 7, 1944, in Marion County to Harold M. “Buster” and Lois Marie Weyand Huntley. He joined the U.S. Army. After his discharge, he moved to Newton and worked for the Santa Fe Railroad for 42 years as a signal foreman and maintainer.
Homemaker Jean W. Townley, 99, died July 23 in McPherson, where she had lived since 1998.
She was born June 18, 1914, in New York City to Richard and Blanche Hudson Wollison.
IN MEMORIAM:
Erna Mae Yeagley
Although it has been more than 20 years since dentist W.C. Jessen’s heirs sold his big two-story home on Vine Street, there are still plenty of people in Peabody who refer to it as “the old Doc Jessen place.”
Cory and Daneece Foth bought the house in 1999 and plan to stay in it until another generation refers to it as “the old Foth place.”
When Delores Dalke of Hillsboro began selling real estate in the 1970s, the trend in home decorating was to have colorful walls. But, by the 1990s, conventional wisdom changed to say that walls should be light and neutral in color, at least if you were going to sell the home.
The idea was that if a room’s walls were a neutral color, the owners could decorate it and accent it as they wanted. The truth, though, was that most people decorated with neutral furniture, as well.
Tobe and “Red” Moore were camping with their family at their new property off Sunflower Road when a man stopped for some information.
Greg Kite of the Historical Preservation Alliance of Wichita and Sedgwick County was inquiring about the 19th century stone home located on the property just south of Marion on Sunflower Road.
Brad and Jeannie Wildin’s County Seat Decorating Center, just celebrated 35 years of business, and has gone through many changes since purchasing the business in 1978 from Walt Oelschlager.
“When we started out, we had a small business loan,” Jeannie said. “We had to learn to live creatively.”
U.S. Department of Agriculture loans and grants are available for home repairs and renovations, including construction of storm shelters and safe rooms.
The agency’s loan and grant program for single-family homes can finance improvements that remove health and safety hazards for owner-occupied homes.
On Oct. 18, 1952, the Most Rev. Mark K. Carroll, Bishop of the Diocese of Wichita, offered Mass in the boyhood church of Father Kapaun at Pilsen. The large church of St. John was filled to capacity. Two army chaplains from Fort Riley assisted. The parents of the hero-priest insisted that the citations be given to Bishop Carroll. “The Bishop should have them,” they said. “We gave our son to the diocese.”
Immediately after the Mass, Lt. Col. George F. Schwartz of Salina, in the name of the United States government, presented the two medals to Bishop Carroll, and read the following citations for bravery:
HEADQUARTERS 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION
Sept. 2, 1950
AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL — By direction of the President, under the provisions of Executive Order 9419, and pursuant to the authority contained in AR 600-45, the Bronze Star Medal with V device for heroic achievement in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States is awarded the following named officer:
CHAPLAIN (CAPT.) EMIL J. KAPAUN 0558217, Chaplain Corps, United States Army, a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, displayed heroism in action against the enemy near Kumchon, Korea, on Aug. 2, 1950.
Chaplain Kapaun received information that there was a wounded man in an exposed position on the left flank of the first battalion who could not be removed as there were no litter bearers available. Chaplain Kapaun, together with another officer, immediately proceeded to the front lines where he contacted the battalion commander in order to obtain the approximate location of the wounded man. With total disregard for personal safety, Chaplain Kapaun and his companion went after the wounded man.
The entire route to the wounded soldier was under intense enemy machinegun and small arms fire. However, Chaplain Kapaun successfully evacuated the soldier, thereby saving his life. This heroic action on the part of Chaplain Kapaun reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.
By command of Maj. Gen. Gay.
HEADQUARTERS, EIGHTH UNITED STATES ARMY, KOREA
Aug. 18,1951
AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS — By direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved July 9, 1918, and pursuant to authority contained in AR 600-45, the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action is awarded in the name of the Commander-in-Chief, Far East, to the following named officer:
CHAPLAIN (CAPT.) EMIL J. KAPAUN, 0558217, United States Army. Chaplain Kapaun, while a member of Headquarters Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in the vicinity of Unsan, Korea, on Nov. 1 and 2, 1950.
“On the afternoon of Nov. 1, and continuing through the following 36 hours, the regiment was subjected to a relentless, fanatical attack by hostile troops attempting to break through the perimeter defense. In the early morning hours, the enemy succeeded in breaking through the defense, and hand-to-hand combat ensued in the immediate vicinity of the command post where the aid station had been set up.
Chaplain Kapaun, with complete disregard for his personal safety, calmly moved among the wounded men, giving them medical aid and easing their fears. His courageous manner inspired all those present and many men who might otherwise have fled in panic were encouraged by his presence and remained to fight the enemy.
As the battle progressed, the number of wounded increased greatly and it became apparent that many of the men would be unable to escape the enemy encirclement. Finally, at dusk on Nov. 2, the remaining able-bodied men were ordered to attempt to break through the surrounding enemy.
At this time, although fully aware of the great danger, Chaplain Kapaun voluntarily remained behind and when last seen was administering medical treatment and rendering religious rites wherever needed. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Chaplain Kapaun in this action reflects great credit on himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service. Entered the federal service from Kansas.
By command of Gen. Van Fleet.
Bishop Carroll then delivered the sermon, which is given here as it expressed so aptly and touchingly the sentiments of all who revered Father Kapaun:
An unusual aspect of family history sparked an extraordinary amount of preparatory effort for the upcoming Warneke / Lawrenz family reunion.
Three Warneke brothers married three Lawrenz sisters in the early 1900s.
Usual activities such as quilting, playing cards, and shooting pool kept Marion Senior Center patrons busy recently.
Bennie Holtsclaw sang for Senior Center Day on July17.
Sixty members attended the reunion of the James and Maggie Summervill family July 14 at Marion Community Center.
Among them were Cleo Summervill, Mike Summervill, and Evelyn Jones, Chanute; Robin, Colin, Claire, and Grant Totten, Gresham, Ore.; Glen and Lea Summervill and Pam and Marc Summerville, Wichita.
BIRTHDAYS:
90th birthday to be celebratedWEDDINGS:
Angie and Andrew StrauserMEMORIES:
10,
25,
35,
50,
60,
100,
125 years ago
You could hear the frustration in Councilman Jerry Kline’s voice: “You’ve got a federal government who’s cutting, a state government that’s cutting. Why aren’t we doing this?”
Instead, the City of Marion was looking at a budget calling for a tax increase of roughly $22 on a typical home. The question was not so much whether taxes should increase, but whether taxpayers would see a tangible benefit if they did. City crews’ getting a new backhoe, a new bucket truck, or a new dump truck instead a used one didn’t seem enough.
Remember a few years ago, when every other phone call you received was about whether you were satisfied with your long-distance carrier?
Some product or service always seems to be on the verge of major upheaval. Grow or die. Expand gigantically or fade into tiny irrelevancy.
Head coach Scot Williams is proud of his 10 and under softball team for placing second after falling to Chase County 5-2 at the Cottonwood Valley League tournament July 8 through 14 in Marion.
“They had a good pitcher,” Williams said.
Assessed value of property in the Centre school district increased $1.1 million, Superintendent Brian Smith told the school board Friday.
The board approved publication of a 2013-14 budget calling for a 2.4 percent increase in the district’s tax rate to 43 mills. Total teacher salaries will rise from $598,473 to $615,000.
Centre Future Business Leaders of America had its largest number of members ever qualify for this year’s national competition June 27 to 30 in Anaheim, Calif.
Eleven students competed in five categories.
Elizabeth Goentzel of Marion is among 205 students in the U.S. and Canada who will receive a scholarship from the Fred and Mary Koch Foundation for 2013-14 academic year.
Goentzel will attend Fort Hays State University in the fall. Her parents are John and Marlene Goentzel.
Timothy Stuchlik will receive his Eagle Scout award in a court of honor with Troop 106 at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Lincolnville.
For his service project, he painted and installed signs at Marion County Park and Lake. When he turned 18, he volunteered as a junior assistant scoutmaster with the newly reopened Troop 106.