Marion County RECORD

Frantic late-night rollover search a hoax, suspect arrested

The dispatch received at 12:45 a.m. Monday by Peabody ambulance, fire, rescue, police, and sheriff’s deputies was urgent. A female motorist had called 911 to report that she was pinned in a rolled-over vehicle in a ditch along US-50 somewhere between Walton and Peabody.

Tempers flare during commission meeting

Monday’s county commission meeting was like watching an old Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Robots game. Commissioner Randy Dallke complained that lake resident Garry Dunnegan had cut a tree and dumped rocks at Marion County Park and Lake, and Dallke wanted the county to press charges against him.

Dead trees, grass fires, and pack rats challenge firefighters

Violent intruder lacerated, arrested

A violent domestic disturbance led to a life-threatening injury and eventual arrest of a Peabody man last week. At approximately 6 p.m. March 15, Peabody police investigated a disturbance at 310 N. Elm St. at which a bleeding Matthew Kangas was allegedly restrained, treated, rushed to a Wichita hospital.

Suspect with multiple charges meanders into court system

A total of 12 charges brought Monday against Matthew Kangas of Peabody brought the total number of charges filed against him in the past 12 months to 30, yet he walked free Friday on $25,000 bond. The litany of court and prosecutorial actions illustrate the challenges of navigating the court system. Kangas has been found guilty but is yet to be sentenced on any of the prior cases against him.

Brave preschoolers hunt them a 'b'ar' on B week adventure

Preschoolers were a little like kings and queens of the wild frontier last week when they hunted a bear for “B week” in class at Marion Head Start. During B week, B stood for B words but mostly for bears, a lot of soft, cuddly teddy bears in all colors, shapes, and sizes: Brown bears, black bears, red bears, pink bears, rainbow bears, a Captain America bear, Spider bear, and a little white bunny in a Harvard shirt.

Cash burgled from 16 vehicles

Officials are investigating a rash of more than 30 car burglaries in Hillsboro last week. Approximately $89 in loose change, $175 in bills, and a diamond ring valued at $200 were reported stolen from 16 of 33 ransacked vehicles residents left unlocked in driveways and on streets near their homes between Thursday and Saturday, Hillsboro police chief Dan Kinning said.

Engulfed garage burns down, melts neighbor's siding

A Peabody garage that burned to the ground melted siding on a neighboring house and seriously damaged a ski boat early Sunday morning at 201 Olive St. First on scene, Peabody fire chief Mark Penner said the garage was fully engulfed and the owner was outside with a garden hose attempting to battle the blaze without much luck.

Commissioners select radios, talk roads

County emergency responders will get Motorola 800 MHz radios at a cost of $234,060, but when the radios will arrive and how soon they’ll be in use is anybody’s guess. Sheriff Rob Craft shared estimates from four radio companies with commissioners Monday. Motorola radios were the lowest price for 93 portable and 23 mobile radios for the sheriff’s office, emergency management, emergency medical service, dispatch, and health departments, plus configuration of the dispatch center. Additionally, Craft said, Motorola radios have paging capability the other radio systems don’t offer.

Riedy to leave extension office

Since October of 2014, various county groups have gotten to know Renae Riedy as their family consumer and science agent for the Kansas State University extension office in Marion. As of March 31, Riedy will say farewell as she starts a new adventure at the extension office in Dickenson County, where she lives on a farm with her family.

Not-so-sinister snakes slither into spring

While some are shivering from the cold in the winter, rural Hillsboro resident Megan Hein was shivering from fear when she and her husband Nick found where a lot of snakes were hiding from the cold: their water meter. “In the water meter there were probably 30 to 40 snakes,” Hein said. “You couldn’t even read the meter because they were literally covering the whole bottom of the meter and they were piled on top of one another.”

Medicaid expansion gets testimony

Many healthcare eyes are watching a bill that would expand Medicaid eligibility in Kansas and bring some relief to both medical providers and patients in the county. The Kansas Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare now has in its hands a bill that, if passed, would expand Medicaid eligibility. The bill passed last month in the House.

Charlie or Jenny may be creeping into your lawn

A pesky, perennial weed that sports pretty, little blue-violet flowers shows up in abundance each spring in lawns and gardens. It’s scientific name is glechoma hederacea, but it is commonly known as creeping Charlie, creeping Jenny, or ground ivy. This weed spreads easily and vigorously and will take over if not controlled.

Bill Berry

Billie D. “Bill” Berry, 66, of Florence, died Feb. 25 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita after a battle with cancer. Berry was born Dec. 26, 1950, to Chet and Flora Berry on the family farm near Harveyville.

Geraldine Grentz

Geraldine “Geri” Grentz, 85, died March 17 at her home. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Aulne Methodist Church.

Roy Funk

Roy Funk, 94, died Saturday at Bethesda Home in Goessel. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, Goessel. Interment will precede the service at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Haven of Rest Cemetery, Hillsboro.

Larry Lago

Larry Lynn Lago, 70, Peabody, husband of Stephanie Ax-Lago, died Sunday at Via Christi – St. Francis in Wichita. No services are planned. A full obituary will be published next week.

Gaylon Lueker

Gaylon Keith Lueker, 79, of Junction City, died March 11 at Memorial Hospital in Abilene. He was born April 11, 1937, to Clemens A. and Florence K. (Longhofer) Lueker at Lost Springs.

Marjorie Zuercher

Marjorie K. Zuercher, 95, died March 15 at Wheat State Manor in Whitewater. A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Whitewater Community Church in Whitewater.

IN MEMORIAM:

Accidents reported

Civil division

County jail

Deeds reported

Emergency dispatches

Police reports

Traffic division

Growing pains

If you’ve read our front-page story on the matter, you know that there was a bit of a tiff at Monday’s county commission meeting, and if you’ve paid much attention at all, you, like me, saw this one coming. If there was one thing central to Dianne Novak’s campaign, it was that she represented new blood that would chart an independent course. She’s worked hard to do just that.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

Stenzels to celebrate 50 years

Don and Betty Stenzel of Marion will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this upcoming weekend. They were married March 26, 1967, at Strassburg Baptist Church in Marion.

Card shower requested for Stroda's 87th birthday

The family of Margaret (Margie) Stroda of Ramona requests a card shower in honor of her 87th birthday. She was born April 2, 1930. Cards may be sent to P.O. Box 95, Ramona KS 76475.

Vinduska re-elected

Terry Vinduska of Marion has been elected to another term as Kansas Corn Commission District 5 commissioner. He has served as the commission’s representative on the U.S. Grains Council for two decades, and chaired the council in 2011.

Evans speaks at Kiwanis

Members of Kiwanis met Tuesday at Cazadores Mexican Restaurant with 18 members. Mark Evans, owner of The Airstream Guy, was guest speaker. Evans told Kiwanis the history behind Airstream campers and the processes he uses in restoring them.

MEMORIES:

SENIOR CENTER:

Cougar entrepreneurs create custom signs

Need a sign for your farm, ranch, business, or yard? Cougar Custom Signs can make it for you. The small business was created by Centre business and agriculture education students to learn marketing, management, and fabrication skills.

$12,000 4-H scholarship deadline is March 31

Kansas 4-H students who have participated in the program for three or more years have until March 31 to apply for a college scholarship for the 2017-18 academic year. The Vanier Family Scholarship is valued at $12,000 per year for youth attending four-year universities, and $7,000 per year for those attending two-year technical schools or community colleges. Those applying must be planning to enroll full-time.

Club wrestlers qualify for state

Five club wrestlers from Hillsboro qualified for Kids State Championships Saturday at the USA Wrestling Kansas District 3 Championship tournament in Junction City. Sutton Redger, Camden Padgett, and Connor Padgett each claim first in their respective brackets, Tristan Rathbone took third, and Travis King placed fourth.

Area school menu

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HILLSBORO:

CENTRE:

PEABODY:

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Calendar of events

Parkview hymn sing is Sunday

Favorite hymns old and new will resound with a community “Hymn Sing” 7 p.m. Sunday at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church, 610 S. Main St., Hillsboro. The service of musical worship through preselected hymns and songs chosen by the congregation is open to the public. There also will be several musical numbers from the community. For additional information, contact Caryl Wiebe at (620) 382-7520.

Hear Dr. Seuss at library on Friday

Marion City Library will have a Dr. Seuess storytime at 10 to 11 a.m. Friday for children ages 3 to 8. The session will feature Seuss stories, crafts, and snacks. For more information, call (620) 382-2442.

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