BREAKING NEWS
UPDATED AFTER PRINT DEADLINE
Melissa Mermis claimed a second term on Marion city council Monday after provisional ballots from April 5 were tallied and the vote certified.
The race had been close enough that eight provisional ballots counted Monday could have changed preliminary results, but Mermis held on to her council seat with 73 votes, seven more than third-place finisher John Wheeler.
A Marion man was lucky enough to escape with minor injuries when he was struck by a fertilizer truck while crossing Third St. in his motorized wheelchair Friday.
It was better than the last time he was hit on his wheelchair, Robert Morse said. The first time he was hit by a vehicle was when he lived in Hillsboro. That time he was hospitalized with a broken left leg. Gangrene set in and the leg had to be amputated at the knee, Morse said.
Chris Costello is a clear winner in the race for Marion City Council, but who will get the second seat remains in the air until after county commissioners canvass votes Monday morning.
Melissa Mermis got 69 votes, John Wheeler got 64 votes, Michel Soyez got 63. Jerry Dieter got 47 votes.
A motorcycle collided with a car at the driveway of Casey’s General Store in Marion on Monday, sending the motorcycle rider to the hospital and leaving both drivers with citations.
Emily Staatz, 23, Ramona, was driving a 1999 Plymouth eastbound on Main and attempted to turn left into the parking lot at Casey’s. In doing so, she drove into the path of an oncoming 1983 Yamaha motorcycle driven by Jeanie Hillyer, 56, Newton.
Bruce Skiles has sold his chiropractic equipment and office at 410 E. Main St. in Marion to Paul and Heather Fay of Kansas City. Skiles retired from practice in 2014.
Heather Fay has a doctorate in chiropractic. She is readying the clinic for business and expects to have regular hours by Monday.
Whether wearing the hat of Hillsboro resident or Marion banker, Jim Hefley is a concerned taxpayer who wants to see what the county is getting out of its investment in economic development.
After receiving a March 28 letter from commissioners responding to questions Hefley posed in writing, he’s still waiting for details.
Being caught at Marion Reservoir with more than five walleye in a boat is usually a sure-fire way to get a ticket for violating state fishing regulations, but Craig Johnson got off scot-free Thursday, even though he had far more than five.
How many more? About 1.7 million, give or take a few.
Drivers along K-150 near the Marion-Chase county line may have noticed a tiny white chapel under construction.
David Madden of Osawatomie wants people to notice, and to think.
Local residents have been causing a stir by steering away from being straight with the laws of the road by driving straight through on a field near 240th and Pawnee Rds. in order to avoid driving on a curve.
Road and bridge superintendent Jesse Hamm addressed the issue with commissioners at Thursday’s end of the month meeting.
After just over seven months selling groceries and handmade baked goods, Flint Hills Market and Bakery emptied its inventory from its shelves Thursday and closed its doors in downtown Florence.
The market’s closure no doubt disappointed many in the community, including building owners Judy and Randy Mills.
First District Congressman Tim Huelskamp laid bare the inner workings of how Congressional representatives get and keep committee assignments to those who attended a town hall meeting Monday in Hillsboro.
During the give and take among the 25 to 30 people in attendance, he said Congressional committees are rated A, B, or C, each one requiring members to raise money for their leaders and national political parties.
Individuals between the ages of 17 and 23 are invited to submit applications to U.S. Senator Jerry Moran for nomination to attend a military service academy.
Nominations can be requested for U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York; U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.
Gary Norman Cole, 75, of Marion died Monday at Newton Medical Center.
He was born Oct. 6, 1940, in Lawrence to Jess A. and Doris Farmer Cole. He attended Wichita schools.
John Robert “Bob” Goodin, 63, Leawood, died Friday.
A memorial service was Tuesday at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood.
Pamela Sue Hartman, 59, died March 29 in Andover.
Celebration of Life service was Friday at Brookhaven Baptist Church, Wichita. A burial followed at Banner Cemetery, Elmo.
Mary Jane Herbel, 72, died Sunday in Hillsboro.
Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Zion Lutheran Church, Hillsboro.Family will receive guests from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Jost Funeral Home, Hillsboro.
Velma Klassen, 87, died Friday at Hillsboro Community Hospital.
Services will be held at a later date.
IN MEMORIAM:
Steve Hett
Two fraudulent “cancer charities” agreed last week to a settlement that banned them from doing charitable business after scamming more than $75 million from well-meaning donors across the country.
A press release from Attorney General Derek Schmidt said a lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Arizona against Cancer Fund of America, Children’s Cancer Fund of America, Cancer Support Services, and the Breast Cancer Society in May 2015 after authorities nationwide investigated them.
A new financial education website designed to help people manage their money, make sound investment decisions and become financially literate is now available to Kansans.
Kansasmoney.gov contains an interactive learning center with “bite-sized” educational modules ranging from auto loans to identity protection to Social Security. Most of the modules can be completed in seven minutes or less.
When Gene Winkler announced in 2013 that he was retiring from county emergency medical service duties, he must have done so with a wink, or with fingers crossed behind his back, because he did nothing of the sort.
Perhaps he meant to retire, but instead he continued, as those in EMS and who have benefited from his care can attest. It hasn’t been unusual to see Winkler respond to a serious call even when not on duty, if he knew he could get to the scene and intervene before an ambulance arrived. In 2015, he took on even more, stepping up to chair a newly-formed EMS advisory committee.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
Unexpected Delights
Marion County children flooded a free carnival Sunday at Marion Community Center, leaving workers pleasantly exhausted.
Marion Parks and Recreation, Circles of Marion Co. and Hillsboro Lions Club sponsored the carnival.
Sunday was the official start of this year’s Walk Kansas program.
Growing up on a dairy farm south of Lehigh, Sharolyn Flaming Jackson was active in 4-H. She said her involvement led to a passion for helping people, especially in the area of nutrition and good health.
Walk Kansas, a statewide health and fitness initiative, began Sunday and will continue through May 28. Marion County extension agent Renae Riedy said Friday that 16 teams have been formed in Marion County.
She said individuals may still sign up through Thursday by going to www.walkkansas.org or contacting Riedy at the Marion County Extension Office or by email at renaer@ksu.edu. Individuals will be placed in a team.
Darin Neufeld was featured speaker at Tuesday’s Kiwanis Club meeting in Marion.
Neufeld spoke about EBH & Associates and the services they provide. Neufeld said their focus is to see what’s needed for the community, research and apply for grants that may be available, plan for the project they are working on, and see that it is constructed.
MEMORIES:
10,
25,
35,
50,
60,
100,
125 years agoSENIOR CENTER:
Schmidt and children perform for seniors,
Senior menu
Two Marion High School students and an instructor sowed the first “seeds of progress” in the FFA Community Garden on Friday marking a milestone in the project.
FFA students Kaitlyn Goebel and Aidan Cairns, accompanied by FFA supervisor Mark Meyer, planted about 160 Red Russet and Yukon Gold variety potatoes.
Almost every character in the mystery “Murder’s in the Heir” to be performed by 15 Centre students this weekend has the weapon, opportunity, and motive to commit an unseen murder.
The mystery is similar to the game Clue onstage, and it’s up to the audience to decide who committed the murder.
The USD 408 Honor Banquet, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. April 25, will be catered in the Middle School Commons. MHS forensics students will provide entertainment. For more information or to make reservations, call (620) 382-3254.
Marion High School track and field won their home meet on Tuesday at Warriors Stadium.
Marion boys and girls placed first in the meet, while both Hillsboro boys and girls placed second. Centre girls placed sixth while the boys placed fourth.
The Marion/Peabody-Burns Warriors golf team finished “in the middle of the pack” of 13 teams, according to coach Topher Rome
Jade Corona earned a medal placing 15th with a score of 107.
Chat and Dine Club’s first dinner of 2016 will be 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Marion County Park and Lake Hall.
Hosts will be Dick and Jan Fanter, Rich and Judy Forney, and Larry and Barb Smith.
Shane Claiborne, author, speaker, and advocate for social justice, will speak at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.
Claiborne will present a talk titled “Another World is Possible,” and will speak on topics including poverty in America.
Multiple Grammy nominee Martina McBride will perform at 8 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Stiefel Theatre in Salina.
Tickets start at $79 and go on sale at 9 a.m. Friday They may be purchased at the Stiefel box office, over the phone at (785) 827-1998, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
USDA commodities will be available for pickup from 1 to 4 p.m. April 20 at Lincolnville Community Center.
Mill levy requests top the agenda for a Senior Citizens of Marion County meeting at 9:30 a.m. April 15 at Tampa Senior Center.
Tampa seniors will be serving morning refreshment, and attendees are invited to eat lunch at Tampa Grill.