Marion County RECORD

K-150 accident victim leaves behind a legacy of helping

Steve Smith of Spring Hill got the call Saturday no parent ever wants to get. His 22-year-old daughter, Brooke, had been killed in an accident in Marion County on K-150 just east of Yarrow Rd.

Wheeler to open new building center

A 2014 Marion High School graduate is bringing a lumberyard back to Main Street in Marion. Morgan Wheeler said funding for the lumberyard has been approved, and he plans for construction to start within the next month.

Orange and black impostors flutter through Marion County

Swarms of orange and black butterflies are fluttering through the county, but do not be fooled. These are not monarchs. “These butterflies look very different from monarchs,” said K-State entomology extension leader Raymond Cloyd. “They should be easy to tell apart, even for a novice.”

Partners hope thin is a win for new pizza shop

Marion’s newest pizza shop owners don’t consider other pizza places to be competition. Business partners Kyla Norman and Diane Stubblefield opened WarBird Pizza across the street from Central Park at the start of the month, offering stone-fired pizza and ice cream.

Audit shows $14.7 million cash in county coffers

Marion County holds millions of dollars in unencumbered cash, the county’s auditor reported Monday, confirming an issue raised in recent budget discussions. The county’s annual audit identified $14.7 million in unencumbered cash at the end of 2016. Accountant Scot Loyd of Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk & Loyd presented the report, which also identified several deficiencies, to commissioners.

Marion firefighters seek help naming their rhino mascot

Marion Fire Department’s new logo sports an animal mascot — but not the stereotypical Dalmatian. A rhino adorns the emblem for the self-proclaimed rhino capital of Kansas, and firefighters are asking for help naming him. Firefighter Preston Williams came up with the idea of incorporating the rhino into the logo and contacted Braden Suffield, a 2006 Marion High School graduate and graphic designer.

Florence fire department gets closer to radios

A second grant moves Florence fire department $1,000 closer to the amount they need to have county-mandated radios in their hands. Florence Fire Chief Mark Slater said Florence Community Foundation has awarded a $1,000 grant to use toward the $45,000 purchase of 800 MHz radios the county earlier decided emergency responders need to have because the county’s dispatch system is being switched to 800 MHz.

Second-grader is top mutton buster

Tucker Weber climbed up onto the back of his sheep, wrapped his arms around its neck, hooked his feet around the sheep’s belly, and prepared to hold on tight. Really tight. Tucker, the 2017 mutton bustin’ state champion from Cedar Point, competed against 45 other children from across the state during the Kansas State Fair Mutton Bustin’ Championships after he qualified during Florence Labor Day’s mutton bustin’ competition.

Fix for 330th Rd. on horizon

Darin Neufeld of EBH Associates updated commissioners Monday on bidding for the 330th Rd. project. He said there has been a lot of interest in the work among contractors. After opening bids on Sept. 28, if commissioners choose a slurry base, contractors could start their work in about a week, Neufeld said. It would take two to three weeks for the base, and another two to three for an asphalt overlay. The entire eight-mile stretch could be done in six weeks, he said, minus striping.

County kids to show at state junior livestock show

Tayle Black, 8, of Marion, is not afraid to get a little muddy when preparing her two pigs, a cross bred and a berkshire, for Kansas Junior Livestock Show. “It gets really messy,” Black said. But that’s okay, she said, because washing them is actually her favorite part.

Washburn busy writing defense motions

A man awaiting Oct. 24 trial on county charges that were allegedly part of a multi-state crime spree ending in his February arrest in Arizona is filing his own motions in court despite the fact he claims to be happy with court-appointed defense attorney Gary Price. Allen D. Washburn, 36, is charged with residential burglary, two counts of felony theft, damage to property, and misdemeanor theft.

Supreme Court session slated for Emporia

Two cases on the docket of the Kansas Supreme Court will be heard Oct. 3 at Emporia State University. The cases will be heard from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Webb Hall on the second floor of Memorial Union. An informal reception will follow in the Webb Hall lobby.

Arts grants open

An artistic project for cultural and economic vibrancy or arts integration in the community could get launch money from one of two state grant programs. Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission is accepting applications for its strategic investment and arts integration programs.

Dorothy Delk

Family services for former nurse Dorothy Louise (Rhodes) Delk, 83, of Hillsboro, who died Sept. 11, will be at noon Friday at Petersen Funeral Home, Newton. A graveside committal service will follow at 2 p.m. at Maize Park Cemetery, Maize. Born Feb. 4, 1934, to Oren and Betty Blevins in DeGraff, she was married to John W. Rhodes from 1952 to 1996, and Bob Delk from 2000 to 2017.

IN MEMORIAM:

Accidents reported

Criminal division cases

County jail bookings

Deeds recorded

Domestic cases

Emergency dispatches

Marriage licenses granted

Offenses reported

Police incident reports

Traffic division cases

Children learn the importance of a healthy lifestyle

Imagine walking into a larger than life mock-up of the various parts of a body and learning what happens to food as it enters and travels through the body. Centre kindergarten through sixth grade students learned the importance of good nutrition choices last week by walking through a Body Venture 50-foot-long exhibit of connected shapes and sizes, representing various parts of the human body.

Addictions support group fueled by faith

Val Newton has been to the mountaintop, and he’s trudged through the valley of addiction. Today he tries to walk the high road in faith, and wants to help others with similar challenges. The former Good News Christian Fellowship pastor and co-facilitator Chandra Morris are bringing Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered recovery program, to the county.

Signing off

It’s been quite a run here at the ‘Ol Thing this time around, and forgive me if you’ve been bamboozled by that headline into believing, in hope or dismay, that this news editor is saying goodbye. I’m not going anywhere. Instead, this is about reclaiming our visual image as a quaint, beautiful community by advocating that we get rid of the ever-growing number of signs and banners attached to Central Park sidewalk rails and stuck in public right-of-way nearby.

Never a stranger

Emporia State student Brooke Smith was anonymous to us as she drove through the county Saturday on what was to be a surprise visit to her brother in Lindsborg. Like countless others, she was just an unknown figure in an unfamiliar car speeding by on the highway. When a 15-year-old driver inexplicably crossed the center line of K-150 Saturday night, 22-year-old Brooke became tragically relevant to us when she died instantly in the resulting collision. A name, a statistic, and when people heard about the accident, someone they naturally hoped would be “not us.”

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

Dry cleaning, a small piece of a full-service pie

Billy and Donna Rosiere have been in the service field all of their adult life, and operating Marion Dry Cleaning and Laundry is no different. They work long days and long hours, sometimes even weekends, to provide customers with a multitude of services. They often go out of their way to pick up and deliver items.

Kiwanis preps for Old Settlers' Day

Marion Kiwanis Club members are preparing for Old Settlers’ Day. Casey Case said at Tuesday’s meeting that last year’s parade went smoothly because of the impending rain. The parade list, which is not finalized, includes participating Marion High School classes dating back to 1947, which is celebrating its 70th reunion. From ’47 on, only two classes are currently missing: ’87 and ’12.

1960s classes to hold Old Settlers' reunions

Class of 1962 Marion High School class of 1962 will celebrate 55 years on Old Settlers’ Day. Classmates will gather at 7 p.m. Sept. 29 at Rocky Hett’s quarry outpost for snacks and conversation.

Neo-Century Club learns about nutrition

County extension agent Kristen Cope presented a lesson on nutrition to Neo-Century Club members at their Sept. 11 meeting. The 12 members present revealed their heart sisters when answering roll call.

Couple's long-distance relationship began at Centre

Centre junior C.J. Thompson was just being a welcoming friend last year as he helped exchange student Haizea Diego improve her English. Little did they know that helping would develop into a close emotional relationship that would take C.J. to Spain for six weeks this summer. Now, they are trying to preserve that relationship while being thousands of miles and an ocean apart.

20th Century Club reviews yearbook

20th Century Club members launched the 2017-18 club year with a dinner Sept. 4 at the Santa Fe Room at Marion City Library. After dinner, they reviewed the club’s yearbook.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT:

SENIOR CENTER:

MEMORIES:

Warriors win close game over Cardinals

A second quarter Marion rally sparked by a Sedgwick turnover set up an early offensive shootout and late defensive stalemate Friday in a 38-35 Warriors victory. The Cardinals opened the scoring with a six-play drive, scoring on a quarterback rollout and 41-yard floater carried by the wind.

Lady Cougars get good experience at Marion

Centre volleyball team continues to struggle but is making improvements as it gets more experience, coach Karen Nickel said. The young team, made up of mostly underclass players and missing one of two senior starters, did not advance out of pool play at Marion’s Spikefest on Saturday but defeated Berean Academy in a consolation match.

Centre Cougars crush Herington, 62-14

The Centre Cougars are on a roll. For a second consecutive week, the team caused an early end to a game by outscoring their opponents by more than 45 points. The Cougars defeated Herington on Friday at Bud Peterson Field, 62-14. The Railers were first receivers and scored a touchdown and two extra points in 1 minute and 40 seconds. Seven seconds later, Max Svoboda carried the ball 38 yards for a Centre touchdown.

Helping hands: Students donate coins to make change for hurricane victims

A negative score can still make positive change when students’ pennies add up. Marion High School gifted students organized a penny drive pitting seminar classes against each other to raise money for hurricane relief through the Red Cross.

Couples golf tourney turns 25

Some couples drove more than 100 miles Sunday to be part of the silver anniversary couples tournament at Marion Country Club. Roger and Marcy Cannon of Hutchinson shot 74 in the 18-hole, crossfire format tournament to win the championship flight by two strokes over Brian and Cindy MacDonald of Salina. Jerry and Lois Smith of Marion carded a 77 for third.

Runners medal, improve from first race

Three of five Marion High School runners medaled in cross-country races Thursday at Herington. Senior Colin Williams ran the varsity 5K in 19 minutes, 20 seconds, taking ninth place. Freshman Nathan Shields also took home a ninth-place medal in the JV race, running in 22:40.

Marion volleyball takes third at Spikefest

The Lady Warriors took third place at the 11th annual Marion Spikefest on Saturday. Marion lost to Halstead, the eventual champion, during pool play, 25-22, 25-19. The Warriors beat Wichita Defenders, 25-22, 25-21, and Centre, 25-8, 25-5.

SCHOOL MENUS:

Big Truck Night to be Thursday

Youth who enjoy tractors, semi trucks, and fire trucks can attend Big Truck Night from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Hillsboro Elementary School. There will be big trucks, tricycle riding, toy trucks, community resources, and safe kids information for kids up to age 5. Gifts and refreshments will be provided.

National commander coming to Hillsboro

The first woman elected as American Legion national commander, Denise Rohan, will be speaking in Hillsboro from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at the American Legion post at 405 Floral Dr. Rohan also will be participating in a question and answer session.

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