Marion County RECORD

HEADLINES

Reclaimed quarry wins state award
Restoration of a former quarry north of Marion garnered an annual state award. Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. was given the 2018 Governor’s Mined Land Reclamation Award last month at the Kansas Aggregate Producers Association meeting in Olathe.
Citizens 'fed up to here' with road conditions
Improving county roads was the topic that brought Warren Harshman, president of Harshman Construction, to talk with county commissioners Monday. The county has purchased most of its rock from Harshman quarries at Florence.
Aulne ninth-grader wins photo contest
An Aulne ninth-grader’s photography talent has drawn statewide accolades. Ellie Just’s photo, “Labor of Love — My Grandpa,” won first place in the Happy Birthday, Kansas! photo contest sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society.
Florence closer to signing water lease agreement
Florence city council members moved another step closer to resolution on the Crystal Springs lease agreement Monday. Mayor Bob Gayle said the document is being reviewed for final details.
POW-carved gift taxies into permanent home
Don Stutzman, who lives in Hesston with his wife, Elnor, visited Peabody Museum on Thursday to present a model of a German World War II fighter plane to the museum. It was carved by a German prisoner of war held in a camp at Peabody from 1943 to 1946. When Don and his brother, Doug Stutzman, were growing up on a farm at 110th and Pawnee Rds. in rural Peabody, their widowed grandfather, David Winger, and father, Clifford, hired German POWs to work on their farm.

OTHER NEWS

Local author shares story of abuse, redemption, victory
For Marion resident Blythe Hardy, sharing his story of sexual abuse was about finding release. It came in the form of his book, “Our Little Secret, Revealed,” published six months ago, soon after he moved to the area.
Gifts of comfort ease hospital stay
Hospitalized children at St. Luke Hospital won’t find their stay quite so boring thanks to a donation from Sunday school students at Elmdale United Methodist Church. Sunday school students on Nov. 4 packed four dozen bags with crayons, small coloring books, toys, and puzzles. The bags were taken to hospitals in Marion, Emporia, and Council Grove.
Vehicle wash re-opens with updates
A brand new water unit, a fresh coat of paint, and a rebuilt truck bay signal signs of life at the former US-56 Car and Truck Wash north of Marion. The Rhino Car and Truck Wash is open with a single wash-it-yourself unit for standard-sized vehicles and a large bay for trucks and bigger units.
Independent enters race for commission
A third candidate has entered the race for District 4 county commissioner. Aulne resident Amy Soyez, independent, filed for the position last week.
Hillsboro hospital owner to appeal receivership decision
A court ruling that put Hillsboro Community Hospital into receivership will be challenged by the company believed to own the hospital. CAH Acquisition Company #5, one of 11 codefendants in a mortgage foreclosure lawsuit filed Jan. 8 by Bank of Hays, filed notice in the case last week that it will appeal a Jan. 18 ex-parte decision to the Kansas Court of Appeals.
Pancakes and fixings bring in $3,700
A good turnout for Sunday’s annual pancake feed raised $3,700 for the Florence Fire Department. “We’ve been doing it for 35+ years,” fire chief Mark Slater said. He and 14 other firefighters and their wives cooked pancakes, sausages, and eggs for 350 people.
Author talks about work with Mother Teresa
Linda Schaefer, author of three books on Mother Teresa’s worldwide mission, will speak at 2 p.m. Feb. 17 at Holy Family Catholic Church Parish Activity Center, 415 N. Cedar, Marion. Schaefer’s work with Mother Teresa spans two decades. She started as a volunteer with the Order of the Missionaries of Charities.
Higher ed classes as close as local library
Peabody resident Draxa Langley hasn’t stopped learning in the years since she graduated high school, she instead ramped it up over the past year with Universal Class. Marion County residents have free access to the online higher education program, as long as they have a state library card and an access code, both available at local libraries.
Trees become fishy condos
In a fish-eat-fish world, small bluegill and crappie often become a meal of larger predators. To help fish have a better chance of survival, Marion County Park and Lake Department employees have been dropping trees to the bottom of the lake.
Alarm company gives address but no town for fire call
An early morning call from an alarm company sent Marion firefighters scrambling to the wrong location Jan. 29. Sheriff Rob Craft said an alarm company reported a fire in the 200 block of Eisenhower.
Marion-Florence FFA soup supper Tuesday
The Marion FFA chapter is having a soup supper fundraiser starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday before the home basketball game against Remington at the Marion Sports and Aquatic Center. Funds will be used to support a food packaging event planned for spring.

DEATHS

Jeanne Higgins
Funeral services for Jeanne Louise (Carr) Higgins, 74, who died Jan. 22, were 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Eastmoor United Methodist Church in Marion. Interment was in Marion Cemetery. She was born Sept. 10, 1944, in Florence.
Randal Claassen
Services for A. Randal Claassen, M.D., who died Monday, will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Parkview M.B. Church in Hillsboro. Burial will be 10 a.m. Thursday in Towanda cemetery.

DOCKET

SPECIAL SECTIONS

FINANCE:
Young widows get help raising children, Vintage Bank named best-of-best
VALENTINE'S DAY:
Being together is their greatest pleasure

OPINION

The dog-gone post office strikes again
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. A barking dog, apparently, is another matter.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
Things and stuff
CALENDAR:
Calendar of events

PEOPLE

Teaching is in her blood
Angela Basore of Centre was surprised when she learned the faculty had selected her to receive the “Teacher of the Year” award from the Tri-County Chamber of Commerce. Upon a closer look, it’s easy to see why.
Card shower requested
The family of Clifford and Evelyn Hett — Troy, Eileen, Noah and Ruby — request a card shower for their parents 50th wedding anniversary Feb. 22. Cards can be sent to 1080 Sunflower, Peabody KS 66866.
Airstream Guy entertains club
Mark Evans, owner of Airstream Guy, talked to members of the 20th Century Club at their Feb. 4 meeting. Twenty members met at the Presbyterian Church for pizza and salad. Margaret Pickering and Marge Schwartz were hostesses for the night.
Conservation speaker is at home on the range
The 73rd annual meeting of Marion County Conservation District will be 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at Eastmoor United Methodist Church. Brian Obermeyer, executive director of the Nature Conservancy at Strong City, will give a presentation on range management.
SENIOR CENTER:
Seniors celebrate Kansas Day, Marion Senior Center menu
MEMORIES:
10, 25, 40, 55, 70, 110, 140 years ago
MEMORIES IN FOCUS:
Parking spaces were at a premium 80 years ago

SCHOOL AND SPORTS

Centre FFA competes in state speech contest
Four Centre FFA members participated in a prepared public speaking contest in Manhattan on Saturday. They picked an agriculture- related topic, researched it, wrote the speech, committed it to memory, and then presented it to a group of judges.
Schools compete at Scholar Bowls
Each Marion County school district sent a team to the regional Scholars Bowl competitions Thursday. Ell-Saline regional
Centre boys win, girls lose at Solomon
The Centre Cougars’ record improved to 8-7 overall and 5-2 in the Wheat State League after Friday’s 42-25 victory over Solomon on the road. The girls lost 46-35 and had a record of 8-7 overall and 3-4 in the league. They played Goessel Tuesday and will play Elyria Christian Friday for the final league games of the season.
Marion boys' offense excels at Sterling
Marion boys captured their fifth win in a row Friday, with a 67-60 victory over Sterling. The Warriors started on the right foot, as a 20-11 first quarter provided the edge needed to keep them in front the rest of the game.
Marion trio earns medals at Herington Jamboree
Marion’s wrestling team was in action Saturday, competing at the Herington Jamboree. No scores were kept, but the Warrior trio of Forest Slater, Will Alleven, and Charlie Nordquist all earned medals.
Centre FBLA members compete
Three members of Centre’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter competed in the District 5 Conference Jan. 28 in Udall. Nearly 500 business students competed in 47 different contests. Each student chose the area in which to compete.
Bowling league results
Perfect attendance
College degrees and honors
Centre and Marion school menus

Marion County RECORD

Restoration of a former quarry north of Marion garnered an annual state award. Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. was given the 2018 Governor’s Mined Land Reclamation Award last month at the Kansas Aggregate Producers Association meeting in Olathe.

Improving county roads was the topic that brought Warren Harshman, president of Harshman Construction, to talk with county commissioners Monday. The county has purchased most of its rock from Harshman quarries at Florence.

An Aulne ninth-grader’s photography talent has drawn statewide accolades. Ellie Just’s photo, “Labor of Love — My Grandpa,” won first place in the Happy Birthday, Kansas! photo contest sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society.

Florence city council members moved another step closer to resolution on the Crystal Springs lease agreement Monday. Mayor Bob Gayle said the document is being reviewed for final details.

For Marion resident Blythe Hardy, sharing his story of sexual abuse was about finding release. It came in the form of his book, “Our Little Secret, Revealed,” published six months ago, soon after he moved to the area.

A brand new water unit, a fresh coat of paint, and a rebuilt truck bay signal signs of life at the former US-56 Car and Truck Wash north of Marion. The Rhino Car and Truck Wash is open with a single wash-it-yourself unit for standard-sized vehicles and a large bay for trucks and bigger units.

A third candidate has entered the race for District 4 county commissioner. Aulne resident Amy Soyez, independent, filed for the position last week.

A good turnout for Sunday’s annual pancake feed raised $3,700 for the Florence Fire Department. “We’ve been doing it for 35+ years,” fire chief Mark Slater said. He and 14 other firefighters and their wives cooked pancakes, sausages, and eggs for 350 people.

In a fish-eat-fish world, small bluegill and crappie often become a meal of larger predators. To help fish have a better chance of survival, Marion County Park and Lake Department employees have been dropping trees to the bottom of the lake.

An early morning call from an alarm company sent Marion firefighters scrambling to the wrong location Jan. 29. Sheriff Rob Craft said an alarm company reported a fire in the 200 block of Eisenhower.

The Marion FFA chapter is having a soup supper fundraiser starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday before the home basketball game against Remington at the Marion Sports and Aquatic Center. Funds will be used to support a food packaging event planned for spring.

Funeral services for Jeanne Louise (Carr) Higgins, 74, who died Jan. 22, were 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Eastmoor United Methodist Church in Marion. Interment was in Marion Cemetery. She was born Sept. 10, 1944, in Florence.

Services for A. Randal Claassen, M.D., who died Monday, will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Parkview M.B. Church in Hillsboro. Burial will be 10 a.m. Thursday in Towanda cemetery.

FINANCE:

VALENTINE'S DAY:

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. A barking dog, apparently, is another matter.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

CALENDAR:

Angela Basore of Centre was surprised when she learned the faculty had selected her to receive the “Teacher of the Year” award from the Tri-County Chamber of Commerce. Upon a closer look, it’s easy to see why.

The family of Clifford and Evelyn Hett — Troy, Eileen, Noah and Ruby — request a card shower for their parents 50th wedding anniversary Feb. 22. Cards can be sent to 1080 Sunflower, Peabody KS 66866.

Mark Evans, owner of Airstream Guy, talked to members of the 20th Century Club at their Feb. 4 meeting. Twenty members met at the Presbyterian Church for pizza and salad. Margaret Pickering and Marge Schwartz were hostesses for the night.

The 73rd annual meeting of Marion County Conservation District will be 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at Eastmoor United Methodist Church. Brian Obermeyer, executive director of the Nature Conservancy at Strong City, will give a presentation on range management.

SENIOR CENTER:

MEMORIES:

MEMORIES IN FOCUS:

Four Centre FFA members participated in a prepared public speaking contest in Manhattan on Saturday. They picked an agriculture- related topic, researched it, wrote the speech, committed it to memory, and then presented it to a group of judges.

Each Marion County school district sent a team to the regional Scholars Bowl competitions Thursday. Ell-Saline regional

Marion boys captured their fifth win in a row Friday, with a 67-60 victory over Sterling. The Warriors started on the right foot, as a 20-11 first quarter provided the edge needed to keep them in front the rest of the game.

Marion’s wrestling team was in action Saturday, competing at the Herington Jamboree. No scores were kept, but the Warrior trio of Forest Slater, Will Alleven, and Charlie Nordquist all earned medals.

Three members of Centre’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter competed in the District 5 Conference Jan. 28 in Udall. Nearly 500 business students competed in 47 different contests. Each student chose the area in which to compete.