Marion County RECORD

Florence man with COPD cannot afford prescription drugs, dies

Cut costs Marion County schools almost $150,000

Where do we bury our nation's symbol?

It’s no secret. A bald eagle was shot and killed by an unknown suspect sometime during the morning of Feb. 4 below the base of the dam at Marion Reservoir on the east side of the outlet. The case is currently under investigation by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but for the bird, there are several stages it must go through to get to its final resting place.

Former Santa impersonator charged with raping minor

A former Marion County sheriff’s dispatcher, who also worked as an emergency medical technician and firefighter and played Santa for local preschool children, has been jailed for the past seven weeks on 13 counts, including statutory rape of an 8-year-old in Marion. His jailing outside the county was revealed Monday after commissioners were told by Sheriff Robert Craft the county may have to continue paying $30 a day to keep him in a McPherson jail because he knows too much about operations of the Marion jail.

Arrests made in sexual assault case in Peabody

Peabody police arrested an 18-year-old honor roll student Tuesday on a charge of allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl. Malachi Lee Hunsucker, 18, a senior at Peabody-Burns High School, was booked into Marion County Jail on one count of rape.

ALS transfers are EMS extra

When a cardiac patient at St. Luke Hospital or Hillsboro Community Hospital needs to go to a larger medical center, doctors call for a Marion County ambulance with advanced-life-support (ALS) capabilities. Whether they get one depends on how a dozen qualified volunteers are scheduled, and how their skills match up with what a patient needs, county Emergency Medical Services Director Brandy McCarty said.

Write-ins wanted

In Lost Springs, only two people filed paperwork to serve on the city council. Problem is, no one is running for mayor and five seats are open on the city council. In Lehigh, no one filed paperwork. Five city council positions are open in addition to the mayor.

'Phoenix Group' hopes to breathe life into Florence gymnasium

It’s hosted flea markets, art fairs, roller skating, and a haunted house. It’s home to a few annual Florence events. It’s had broken pipes, a leaky roof, and a warped floor. It even got a recreation director terminated over scheduling conflicts. The gymnasium in Florence has been a building in search of a purpose since the city purchased it in 2008 and Marion County Special Education Cooperative moved out in 2009.

Peabody postmaster looks forward to career change

After 27 years as a United States Postal employee, 18 of them as Peabody Postmaster, Jay Christensen spent Friday in the post office lobby visiting with patrons and customers. The position of full-time postmaster was eliminated at Peabody and Christensen’s last day on the job was Thursday. He turned in his badge and keys, and all that was left was saying goodbye to the people of Peabody. Christensen’s fellow postal employees provided a reception table laden with cake, cookies, muffins, and lemonade. A steady stream of customers came and went during the morning hours to tell Christensen goodbye and wish him well.

Budget talk pervades 408 BOE meeting

USD 408 Superintendent Lee Leiker told board of education members at Monday’s meeting that Governor Sam Brownback’s allotment cuts that stripped $35,000 from the current-year budget likely won’t be the last cuts the district faces this year. Senate Bill 71 would cut an additional $53,500 from the budget, if passed, Leiker said, totaling about $90,000 in losses for the district to be made up between now and June.

Centre teachers show support for superintendent

At least 15 teachers attended the Centre school board meeting Monday, plleging their support for Superintendent Brian Smith. While the board met in closed session for almost two hours to evaluate Smith’s performance, the teachers expressed their support outside the meeting room.

6 County Lake homes receive new addresses

County commissioners voted to change six Lakeshore Drive addresses to Lois Lane in the Wilden Subdivision at Marion County Lake. Lakeshore Drive houses face Lois Lane, creating confusion because driveways are prohibited off Lakeshore Drive, said Marion County Planning and Zoning Director Tonya Richards.

Audrey Bartel

Audrey Estella Bartel, 82, died Feb. 3 at Kansas Christian Home in Newton. She was born to David and Anna (Bartel) Bartel at Durham.

Virgil Oblander

Virgil Oblander, 88, died Feb. 4 in Hillsboro. He was born May 19, 1926, to David and Christina (Herdt) Oblander in rural Durham. Survivors include his wife, Jean Oblander of Hillsboro; sons, Gene of Greeley, Colorado, and Burt of Newton; daughters, Kim Frantz of Tampa and Wendy Daniel of Beckenham, England; five grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Gary Sumner

Gary E. Sumner, 59, of Florence, died Thursday at St. Luke Hospital in Marion. He was born May 20, 1955, to Robert J. and Shirley E. (Perras) Sumner in North Adams, Massachusetts. He married Sharon K. Davis on Dec. 2, 1978.

Robert Wilson

Robert “Bob” Lawrence Wilson, 49, of Hillsboro died Jan. 30. He is survived by his life partner, Cynthia Kerr; children, Jennifer, Steven, and Sarah; and Sarah’s mother, Maria Wilson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Evelynn (Preston) Wilson; a brother, Charles Wilson; and his first wife, Sylvia Wilson.

IN MEMORIAM:

Accidents reported

Civil division

County jail

Criminal division

Deeds recorded

Emergency dispatches

Police reports

Marriage licenses

Traffic division

"Trombone cow guy" is a farmer first

Even as he builds a sizeable catalogue of hit viral videos, farmer Derek Klingenberg of Peabody is still primarily just that — a farmer from Peabody. The video-making comes in his down time and during work. He’s not some entertainer who just happens to live on a farm, he’s a farmer who happens to be entertaining.

Grandson honors grandfather by winning award

Ed Svitak of Pilsen has been known by many names. Born a Deines, he became a Hett, but because of the bonding that developed between him and his grandfather, the late Ed Svitak, he took on the Svitak name as an adult. Known as “Eddy” to friends and relatives, Svitak began farming with his grandfather when he was in high school, a relationship that continued until his grandfather died about two years ago.

Earthquakes to be topic at MCCD event

The 69th annual meeting of the Marion County Conservation District will be held 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at Eastmoor United Methodist Church in Marion. Rex Buchanan, interim director of Kansas Geological Survey, will give a presentation about earthquakes in Kansas.

Blinding stupidity

Saline County has been an entertaining hotbed of political intrigue this year, first firing then rehiring a flock of county officials. Its latest political shenanigans seem less entertaining and more likely to lead the entire state down an equally silly path. By introducing legislation to allow local governments to publish official notices only on websites, Rep. J.R. Claeys has demonstrated contempt for a huge portion of mainly older and lower-income residents who don’t have internet access and turned a deaf ear to a symphony of respected research that proves citizens can’t find online what they don’t have a clue to look for.

The hurdle of humility

Our reporters hear something like this every week: “Oh, I don’t really want to make a big deal out of that.” We find out about a good story, and go after it with great enthusiasm, only to come away empty. For every good story we write, another goes untold because humility stands in our way.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

Neo-Centurians collect valentines

Neo-Century Club met Feb. 2 at Hilltop Manor with 12 members present. Suzanne Thole and Karen Ehrlich were hostesses. Each member brought three signed valentines to give to nursing home residents. The program was presented by Marion Economic Development Director Terry Jones, who presented a vision for the future of Marion and its opportunities for growth.

PEO raises money for community projects

Sixteen members of PEO Chapter DB met at Eastmoor Methodist Church on Feb. 2. Co-hostesses Joni Crofoot, Diane Leiker, and Eileen Sieger prepared a Valentine’s Day dessert. Sieger presented a program on “Special Days.” During the business meeting, it was announced that a local recipient had received a state Sunflower Grant to help pay medical expenses. The finance committee reported that enough money had been raised to donate $500 to five national PEO projects — the International Peace Scholarship, Continuing Education Fund, Cottey College, Educational Loan Fund, and the Scholar Awards.

ANNIVERSARIES:

BIRTHS:

MARION SENIOR CENTER:

MEMORIES:

WEDDINGS:

Fine-tuned: MHS shop students craft own guitars

Although each requires a great degree of artistry, it takes an entirely different skill set to make a musical instrument than it does to make music. However, young guitar players Bret Voth and Corbin Wheeler each recently decided to take their appreciation of music to the next level by trying their hands at guitar-making in industrial education classes at Marion High School.

Program targets students interested in law enforcement

High school students interested in law enforcement will have the opportunity this summer to see what law enforcement training and careers are like through the Cadet Law Enforcement Academy. The goal of Cadet Law is to give young men and women an opportunity to learn more about what law enforcement jobs entail — the duties, training, and discipline that go along with a career in the field. It teaches high school students about leadership and teamwork.

County students earn WSU degrees

Wichita State University granted undergraduate and graduate degrees to eight Marion County students at the end of the 2014 fall semester. Undergraduate students who attained a grade point average of 3.9 and above received the summa cum laude award. Those with at least a 3.55 average received the magna cum laude award; and those with a 3.25 average received the cum laude. Hillsboro Kelsey E. Bartel, B.S. in nursing, magna cum laude. Rachelle A. Scott, B.S. in health science. Marion Jessica E. Fine, M.A. in aging studies. Shanna L. Kline, B.B.A. in economics. Natasha M. Steinborn, B.B.A in human resource management. Peabody Amber Bell, B.S. in nursing, cum laude. Isaiah J. Eldridge, B.A. in communications — electronic medicine. Derrick L. Simmonds, Master of Accountancy.

Centre FFA students place at district events

Centre FFA members participated in the agriculture communications and agriculture sales career development events of the South Central District on Friday in Arkansas City. Kailyn Riffel placed third and Nellie Kassebaum 10th in the Agriculture Communications senior division. Kailyn Riffel, Callie Riffel, and Kassebaum placed fifth as a team.

Centre to host class 1A state scholars' bowl

Centre High School will serve as host for the Class 1A State Scholars’ Bowl at noon Saturday. The public is invited to attend. A pre-ceremony will begin at 11:45 a.m., followed by the competing rounds and finals. The day will conclude with an awards ceremony in the gymnasium.

Centre celebrates FBLA week with special speaker

Jodi Kraus, director of Kansas State University’s student financial planning center, gave a presentation Tuesday to Centre High School students on creating a college financial plan. Kraus has more than 15 years of experience in wealth management and financial planning. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kansas State University and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Kansas School of Law.

Wrestlers win 7 straight

Marion wrestlers dominated seven straight duals last week at Eureka and Onaga to go 7-0 as a team. “We had a very successful week,” coach Chad Adkins said. “We beat some really good teams!”

15-second run not enough for Marion girls

Reggie Miller would have stood and applauded. Down 10 with less than a minute left, the Marion Warriors girls’ basketball team turned what had been a teeter-totter of a second half into a frenetic finish. They couldn’t complete the comeback and lost 44-49 against Bennington. But for a moment there, head coach Kelly Robson said, it looked like his girls might pull it off.

Bulldogs shut down Warriors

A bad start turned into a bad half, which turned into a bad game for the Warriors on Friday, as the Bennington Bulldogs cruised to a 53-37 victory over the host team. “They’re 14-2 for a reason, they’re pretty good at what they do,” head coach Jeff McMillin said.

Centre splits with Vista

Centre took on Rural Vista Tuesday in White City, with the girls basketball team winning 44-32, while the boys lost 55-43. Shelby Makovec and Shelby Pankratz each scored 14 points for the Cougars.

Lady Cougars finish 6-1 in league

The Centre girls’ basketball team defeated Little River at home Friday, 55-28. It was the last league game of the season. The team finished 6-1 in the league and 13-2 overall. Eight Lady Cougars got in on first-quarter action, scoring 24 points compared with 4 by Little River. Centre led 41-11 by halftime and 54-19 after three quarters.

Centre boys lose to Little River

A scene becoming dishearteningly common for the Centre Cougars played out again Friday as they were defeated by Little River at home 58-40. Centre trailed 7-4 when Little River went on a 12-point run to lead 19-6 at the end of the first quarter. Dylan Deines, Justin Bina, and Cody Svoboda made Centre’s first-quarter points.

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