Marion County RECORD

Marion lands new business

A business that repairs, replaces and retrofits sliding doors for farm buildings is preparing to set up shop in Marion and expects to employ about 10 during its first year in business. Marion city council members agreed Monday to sell the former Arlie’s building at 828 Roosevelt St. to John and Amy Minor, owners of Power Track Sliding Door Systems of Kansas.

Chicken owner scratches back

The owner of property that annoyed his neighbors enough to complain to Marion city council two weeks ago came to Monday’s council meeting to speak for himself. “I don’t know what I need to do before the issue is resolved,” Alan Stapleford told council members.

Gun-toting teen arrested on drug charges

An out-of-county teen was arrested on suspicion of multiple drug charges including intent to distribute, and criminal use of weapons, at 10:41 p.m. April 6 near US-56 and Eisenhower St. Marion Police officer Lee Vogel stopped Jaron Palmer, 19, Wichita, for driving a vehicle with no tag light. Vogel’s police report indicated that Palmer was suspected of being under the influence of drugs.

Clean-up day, an excuse to play?

Lloyd Davies of Marion is once again in the midst of a familiar guessing game that he’s played each of the past 13 years: How many volunteers will participate in this year’s cleanup day at Marion Reservoir? “Lots of times I just don’t know who’s going to show up,” he said. “I’d love to have as many as we can get. Last year was great. We had close to 60 volunteers altogether. Other times we’ve had 15 to 30. Sometimes we just get an off day.”

EMS short on volunteers

Ed Debesis knew he was short on volunteers when he took over as county EMS director March 30, but recent reductions in Marion have emphasized the need for recruitment. Chairman Randy Dallke echoed that sentiment at Monday’s commission meeting.

Crackdown looming on illegal burns in county

After responding to 70 calls in nine days for out of control burns, rekindled burns, and unreported burns, Marion County Fire Chiefs Association representatives Lester Kaiser, Brad Pagenkopf, Fred Sheridan, and Ben Steketee met with commissioners Monday about the county burn ordinance. They want a revised burn resolution with clear language and stiffer penalties to deter burns from being started when conditions are hazardous.

Damaged basketball goal part of recurring problem

A pickup game of street-ball gone wrong, an unknown vandal who can dunk, a wannabe baller, or a pack of little punks? The responsible party may never be known, but city officials are dealing with the fallout of a damaged basketball goal in Central Park.

Pumping it up at East Park

The boom of a specialized concrete pumping truck towered high in the sky Thursday above East Park as workers poured the foundation for handball/racquetball courts, the first of many major park improvements planned by the city. “It’s very cool,” Parks and Recreation Director Margo Yates said. “I really feel like we’re making progress.”

Commission questions houseboats at county lake

People live all around Marion County Park and Lake, but commissioners have their doubts about people living on it. Parks and Lake superintendent Steve Hudson approached commissioners Monday with a request from an individual to put a houseboat on Marion County Lake.

Reno honored at auxiliary meeting

The Welcome flags were flying in Marion Tuesday morning to greet District 4 hospital auxiliary members as they arrived for an annual meeting at Marion Community Center. St. Luke Auxiliary President Elora Robinson presented Judy Reno with a bouquet of flowers in honor of her initiative to establish the successful auxiliary shoppe. Reno said the shoppe has netted $400,000 since its inception 10 years ago.

New FACT director wants to improve lives

Families and Communities Together has a new director who hopes to build on the efforts of past leaders to continue to improve the lives of people in the Marion County community. Joy Mark of Hillsboro took over on Dec. 31. She replaced Ashlee Gann, who resigned. FACT is an umbrella organization that oversees several Marion County social programs that benefit families and individuals needing services.

Funding flux leaves USD 408 flummoxed

Although Gov. Sam Brownback last week signed a school funding bill designed to satisfy an earlier Kansas Supreme Court mandate to properly fund schools or shut them down July 1, county schools remain in limbo. Lee Leiker, superintendent of USD 408, said the Supreme Court, which has ordered the attorney general to file a brief in Gannon v Kansas by April 18, has put the bill on a fast track for hearing. Attorneys for the plaintiffs must file a response by April 28.

JoAnn Berry

Merrill Branson

Merrill C. Branson, 83, died Monday at St. Luke Living Center. No services have been scheduled at this time.

Beth Eldridge

A funeral service for Beth Ellen Eldridge, 59, Peabody, will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Peabody Methodist Church. Visitation is 7 p.m. today at Gracepoint Church in Peabody.

Harvey Gaines

Harvey M. “Tony” Gaines of Peabody died Sunday. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Baker Funeral Home, Peabody.

Mary Goertz

Mary Jean “Jeanie” Goertz, 65, died Thursday at Heartland of Marion, Ohio. Burial with a graveside service will take place 10 a.m. Friday at Haven of Rest Cemetery, Hillsboro. A memorial service was held Monday at Mount Vernon Avenue Church of Christ, Marion, Ohio.

Penny Helland

A memorial service for Penny Janiece (Hanes) (Hedrick) Helland, 53, who died Jan. 3 in Coupeville, Washington, will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Hillcrest Cemetery in Florence. A potluck luncheon will follow at Florence Masonic Hall.

Accidents reported

County jail

Deeds recorded

Emergency dispatches

Offenses reported

Police reports

Traffic division

Dairy farmer sees the light with LED

LED could stand for “light enhanced dairy” after an area dairy farmer installed a new lighting system with the help of a state grant. Jason Wiebe, a dairy farm owner in Durham, recently received a $2,771 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant for replacing about 15 old metal hay lights in his free-stall dairy barn with approximately 30 LED lights.

Wheat prices continues downward trend

The decline in grain prices that began last fall appears to be continuing. On March 11, wheat was $4.10 at Lincolnville, but had dropped to $3.70 on Monday.

MES and Tabor team up for farm field trip

Marion Elementary School first grade students rolled up sleeves and got dirty in the name of hands-on education Friday at a Farm Fair event near Canada that included instructive guidance from Tabor College professors and students. Dave and Joanne Loewen, a Tabor College professor couple, opened a family farm that borders the reservoir north of US-56 on Nighthawk Rd. for the Farm Fair.

Retiring coop manager saw major changes

During the 40 years that Stan Utting has been a co-op manager, he’s seen a lot of change, from deregulation of railroads and crop acreages to bigger farms and larger elevators. Utting will retire after the final business meeting of Agri Producers, Inc. on April 23. He led the board of directors through a merger process with Hope and Chapman cooperatives that took effect March 1. Darrell Anderson of Hope is the new Agri Trails Cooperative manager.

Salina conference to spotlight ag teaching

The Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is hosting its first-ever summer conference for Kansas teachers. “Creating the Best Day Ever” will be June 2 at the Salina Bicentennial Center. The conference is open to Kansas teachers, volunteers, out-of-school program coordinators and anyone interested in agriculture education.

Eco for the birds and us

Marion Reservoir Cleanup Day organizer Lloyd Davies reminded me this week that the county sits smack dab in the middle of the Great Plains flyway, the migratory route for thousands upon thousands of diverse species of birds. Overflights of ducks and geese are things I’ve come to take for granted over the years, although on certain days I’ve eagerly filled my camera chip with shots of them at the county lake and reservoir. For the most part, though, they come and go with little notice from me.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

Mayor speaks to Neo-Century Club

Neo-Century Club met April 4 at Hilltop Manor. Mayor Todd Heitschmidt presented a program on projects the city is planning. Hostesses Virginia Heerey and Bea Kelsey served lemon desserts and drinks.

Piano and vocal recital is Sunday

Anita Hancock’s piano and voice students will perform at 3 p.m. Saturday at USD 408 Performing Arts Center. Cooper Bailey, Abi Bernhardt, Jenna Bittle, Olivia Carlson, Cadence Craig, Aubrey Craig, Paige Ensey, Shaliah Ensley, Shyann Harris, Shyla Harris, Cade Harms, Hailey Harshman, Grace Hett, Kaelynn Metro, Jayden Spencer, Mia Spencer, and Abby Wesner will perform.

20th Century Club hears hospital updates

Fifteen members of the 20th Century Club met April 4 at Wagon Wheel Restaurant in Marion with Margaret Pickering, Sally Hannaford, and Cathy Henderson as hosts. St. Luke Hospital and Living Center CEO Jeremy Ensey told the club about hospital activities, and said physician Scott Akers had been hired and will begin practice in July.

MEMORIES:

SENIOR CENTER:

USD 408 accepts roof repair bids

USD 408 school board members gave the nod Monday to bids for roof repairs and routine services. The board accepted a $13,385 bid from Stanfield Roofing to put an overlay on a leaking roof over a hallway at the middle school. The existing roof is the original from when the building was constructed.

Parliamentary procedures team takes 1st at state

The parliamentary procedures team of Centre Future Business Leaders of America took first place at the state conference last week in Topeka. They will compete at the national conference in June in Atlanta, Georgia. Team members are Max Svoboda, Kate Basore, Allison Basore, Whitney Gutsch, and Abigail Svoboda.

Centre health insurance increases

Centre board of education decided at its Monday meeting to maintain the district’s grandfathered Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance policy. The premium of approximately $190,000 is a 12 percent increase from the previous year. The board accepted a donation of $400 from Holy Family Parish to assist in providing basic essentials for students.

4-H club to do health challenge

Area school menus

Marion baseball stumbles, surges

After dropping a season-opening doubleheader at Chase County, Marion baseball coach Roger Schroeder was left to ponder the innings that got away. “We were real disappointed after the first week in the Chase County games,” he said. “It was very common on our end in which we had an inning or two on the defensive side where we weren’t prepared for situational baseball and what was going on around us. When you’re not a juggernaut hitting or pitching team, there’s not a whole lot of room for error.”

Schneider rules sprints

Marion athletes frequently do well against those from larger schools such as McPherson and El Dorado that are invited to participate in the Marion Relays. Friday, Jack Schneider was no exception, running the competition into the ground by winning the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

Centre track competes

At Marion Relays Friday, Centre’s Barrett Smith and Kate Basore placed third in javelin and Whitney Gutsch placed fourth in shot put. The boys placed 12th of 15. The girls tied for 11th place. At the Marion Central Kansas Track League meet April 5, Centre boys placed fourth and Centre girls placed sixth.

Engler medals in golf for Centre

Centre senior Nathaniel Engler placed sixth Friday at Hillsboro, after placing fourth April 5 at a Herington golf meet. Engler scored 97 at Hillsboro and had a score of 100 at Herington.

Country club scramble winners

Fifty members and guests competed in Marion County Club’s season-opening golf scramble Sunday. The team of Nickolas Hett, Marion, Nick Conquest, Wichita, and Mike Cullinane, McPherson, won the first flight.

Bowling results

Calendar of Events

CMBS spring banquet to be April 23 at Tabor

Halstead minister Linford Holdeman will be the keynote speaker for the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies spring banquet at 6:30 p.m. April 23 in the Wohlgemuth Building at Tabor College. Holdeman will speak on “Beginnings and Distinctive of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite.”

Tabor band concert is April 24

Tabor College symphonic band will perform at 4 p.m. April 24 at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. The performance will feature a variety of sacred songs ranging from the 16th century to 20th century contemporary worship music.

Disability group to meet

The board of directors of Harvey-Marion County Community Developmental Disability Organization will hold its regular monthly meeting 4 p.m. Monday in the meeting room at 500 N. Main St., Suite 204, Newton. A public forum is scheduled at the beginning of the meeting.

TEEN to meet April 30

Technology Excellence in Education Network will hold its regular meeting at 6 p.m. April 20 in the USD 408 district office in Marion. More information is available by calling Lena Kliener at (620) 877-0237.

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