HEADLINES

  • Dollar store opens Sunday

    Dollar General will open its doors for shoppers Sunday, albeit without much fanfare for now. Spokeswoman Katie Kile said a grand opening would come in early January, but the store would be open for business much sooner than that “to get things started.”

  • Margo Yates's basketball circus begins

    Each year to orchestrate her rec basketball league, Margo Yates takes on a list of scheduling accommodation requests that would put any scouting report to shame. Of the 61 teams in grades three through six, not one was without stipulations as to how it should be scheduled.

  • FFA'ers seek city's help for community garden

    A trio of Marion High School juniors approached Marion City Council on Monday to seek help in starting a community garden at the former Saddle Club building. The FFA officers, accompanied by supervisor Mark Meyer, said they planned to use the garden as a community service project to donate 50 percent of its produce to Marion County Resource Center and Food Bank.

  • City additions in 2016 up to 4

    The number of full-time positions to be added to Marion city government in 2016 reached four at Monday’s city council meeting, as council approved the conversion of a part-time refuse department worker to a full-time employee, effective Jan. 1. The refuse position, which will be filled by Nicholas Lopez, joins the city’s parks and recreation director, a program director, and an additional electrical employee.

  • Transgender waiver for Tabor hints at larger issues

    When new guidance extending transgendered individuals protection against discrimination was issued by the U.S. Department of Education last year, Tabor College had a dilemma thrust upon it. How could the college accommodate, for example, a male who changed his gender identity to female who wanted to live in a women’s dormitory, participate on women’s sports teams, and use women’s restrooms, and still stay true to the Mennonite Brethren confession of faith it upholds?

  • Bell-ringing led to a life of service for Marion couple

    It’s December again, and Richard “Rich” and Judy Forney have made their way to Aurora, Illinois, to help their Salvation Army officer son at his station at the familiar red kettle. They set up outside shopping malls where, instead of ringing a bell, Rich plays his Glockenspiel. “I enjoy it, and it brings in a lot of money,” Rich said. “People like to hear familiar tunes. It puts them in a better spirit before they go into the store to shop.”

  • Vespers service at Presbyterian church a spiritual tradition

    Marion Presbyterian Church will celebrate the season of advent with its annual vespers service, a traditional night service of song and scripture that dates back to the early 1960s. This year’s service will be 5 p.m. Sunday at the church. Regular attendees know to show up about 15 minutes early to catch the prelude, pastor Jeremiah Lange said.

  • Increasing transport refusals cause concern for county EMS

    Rice County EMS director and consultant Terry David met with commissioners Monday to discuss various issues confronting the ambulance service. David highlighted the number of transport refusals in the county this past year.

OTHER HEADLINES

  • Salvation Army collects for locals

    People shopping in Marion and Hillsboro this Christmas season are likely to see little red Salvation Army kettles in local banks and businesses. Alvin and Arlene Hett of Hillsboro are the Salvation Army’s local contacts. Arlene said they have placed 25 of the kettles, mostly in Hillsboro and Marion, but also in Florence and Durham.

  • Hamm official interim Road and Bridge supervisor

    Commissioner Lori Lalouette may have been absent from the commission meeting Monday, but the remaining commissioners announced Monday that Jesse Hamm, who temporarily was filling in for the road and bridge supervisor position, is now the official interim. “He’s got some things to learn,” Dallke said, “but he’s already got (8 years) with road and bridge.”

  • Florence water gets all clear

  • Fire marshal gives holiday safety tips

    The office of the State Fire Marshal has issued suggestions to prevent fires this holiday season. Tips include testing smoke alarms and making sure they work, looking for flame-resistant artificial Christmas trees, and keeping them at least three feet away from heat sources. Never leave burning candles unattended, and use flashlights or battery-powered lamps in a power outage instead of candles.

  • TCT seeks mail-in board nominations

    TCT, an area telecommunications cooperative, now allows members to vote for board directors by mail-in ballot. A member may apply for the board of directors by printing out an application form from the TCT website at www.tctelco.net. The website provides a list of qualifications, a job description, and answers to frequently asked questions.

  • Deadlines loom for holiday mail

    The United States Postal Service expects to deliver more than 15 billion holiday cards, letters, and packages this holiday season, according to USPS information. That number includes more than 600 million packages. USPS expects standard domestic mail to arrive on time in the continental United States if mailed by Dec. 15. The likelihood of delivery in time for Christmas drops quickly after that date and the cost of guaranteed delivery rises. The post office offers priority mail express with a mail-by date of Dec. 23, but encourages senders to allow extra time for mail being delivered outside major cities.

DEATHS

  • Romayne McGuigan

  • Colleen Thompson

    Colleen K. Thompson, 76, died Dec. 7 at Newton. A daughter, Vickie Schroeder of Marion, survives her. Funeral services will be 7 p.m. Tuesday at Jost Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Family will receive guests from 6 p.m. until service time on Tuesday.

  • IN MEMORIAM:

    Nadine Mosier

DOCKET

FARM

  • Hett barn remains focus of family gatherings and picnics

    Eldon and Rhonda Hett have expanded the setting of the historic limestone barn on their farm south of Aulne to include a pond and beach and other landscaping, providing a pleasant place for picnics and family gatherings. The barn dates back to the late 1800s. The farmstead was purchased by Eldon’s grandparents, John and Rena Hett, in 1919, and John lived there for almost 20 years after Rena died in 1958. They raised nine children.

  • Farming innovation gaining local 'track-tion'

    Among the tractors on display at Marion County Fair this summer, one more than all the others caused passers-by to turn their heads to gape at its odd, unfamiliar appearance. It wasn’t the size or the gleaming red paint characteristic of Case IH equipment that caught their eyes. Instead, it was the absence of tires.

  • Conservation reserve applications open

    Farmers and ranchers wanting to restore, enhance, and protect certain grasses, shrubs and trees can receive financial assistance through USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program. Goals of CRP are to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and reduce loss of wildlife habitat. Participants establish long-term, resource-conserving plant specie on marginally productive agricultural lands. In return, Farm Service Agency provides rental payments and cost-share assistance.

  • Will lower beef prices increase demand?

    Live cattle sale prices have been trending downward since September. That might worry cattle producers, but they hope it will result in increased demand. “Supply and demand works,” said Lincolnville cow and calf producer Mark Harms. “You always want your product to be priced according to value. The consumer decides what to buy. My hope is they would keep on buying beef.”

OPINION

  • Did we just go there?

    Yes indeed, we did. In a county where “don’t ask, don’t tell” was standard practice long before the military officially adopted it, we’ve gone where small town newspapers often are reluctant to go.

  • CORRECTIONS:

    Faulty projection

PEOPLE

  • Lutheran creche honors farm couple

    Kansas winds batter all equally, and such was the case with plastic Nativity figurines that once adorned the lawn of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Tampa, surrounded by a makeshift stable made of hay bales. “One wise man had his head screwed together so many times because it was getting blown off,” pastor Clark Davis said. “The old one had a horrible time with Kansas wind. We had to put bricks in the bottom of them.”

  • Christensens have Thanksgiving family get-together

    The Christensen family had a Thanksgiving dinner and get-together Nov. 26 at Eastmoor Church in Marion. Those who attended from Marion County included Mary M. Hett, Gene and Marge Christensen, Tim and Whitney Christensen, Tiffany and Clinton Jeffrey and Liam, Jay and Cheryl Christensen, Katelyn and Matthew, and Burton and Amy Harshman, Burt, Hailey, and Allie, all of Marion; and Camille Christensen, Tampa.

  • Riggs, Corbett to wed in June

    Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Riggs of Peabody and Mr. and Mrs. Keith Corbett of Oakley are pleased to announce the engagement of their children Merabeth Anne Corbett and Ethan Clark Riggs. Corbett is a 2011 graduate of Oakley High School and attended Kansas State University. She works as a teller and electronic banking representative at the Farmers State Bank of Oakley.

  • SENIOR CENTER:

    Watch out for severe weather, County seniors to meet, Senior menu
  • MEMORIES:

    10, 25, 35, 50, 60, 100, 125 years ago

SCHOOL

  • High schoolers go nuts for business

    Little conical bags, filled with nuts, and touting an image of a squirrel dunking an almond through a basketball hoop are beginning to make their ways into Marion County homes. Marion High School sophomore Colin Williams and juniors Marissa Jacobson and Emily Davies started up their small business, “Nothin’ But Nut” candied nuts, just before Thanksgiving.

  • USD 410 head may leave school

    Seaman USD 345, a 3,800-student district bordering Topeka’s northern boundary, announced Tuesday that USD 410 superintendent Steve Noble is one of two finalists for its vacant superintendent position. USD 410 hired Noble in February 2009 for his first stint as a superintendent following years of administrative and teaching experience.

  • School menus

SPORTS

  • MHS boys run out of gas

    An elite Southeast of Saline boys’ basketball squad strung together 7 points in the final minute of the first half of Friday’s opener and never looked back, leaving Marion in the dust for a 53-31 win. “They were a good team,” Marion head coach Jeff McMillin said. “Early on when we had good energy and we weren’t gassed, we did a pretty good job of being where we were supposed to be. Once we stared getting tired, they had a lot of room to work and started to exploit us.”

  • Warriors optimistic despite late collapse

    In most cases, losing a 9-point lead late in a game to drop a season-opener would be cause for nothing but frustration. But head coach Kelly Robson was in bright spirits after Friday’s 46-42 loss to Southeast of Saline.

  • Warriors wrestling starts strong

    The Warriors wrestled a series of solid matches Friday, going 4-1 to take second place at Burlington’s dual tournament in the team’s first appearance of the season. Marion defeated Central Heights 60-12, Garden Plains 59-9, Eureka 50-28, and Royal Valley 46-12. They lost to Burlington 45-27.

  • Centre Cougars drop first game of the season

    Playing on the road Friday against a team ranked in the top 10 by Kansas high school basketball coaches, the Centre Cougars were defeated by Central Christian of Hutchinson, 65-58. Despite the loss, Coach Richard Idleman was pleased with the team’s performance in its first night out.

  • Centre girls start slow, lose opener 31-24

    The opening game of the season at Central Christian in Hutchinson proved to be an overwhelming challenge for the Centre Lady Cougars. They were defeated 31-24. “With our limited varsity experience, I knew this type of performance was possible,” coach Alan Stahlecker said. “I do believe that we will get better.”

  • Bowling results

UPCOMING

  • Calendar of events

  • TEEN to meet Dec. 16

    Technology Excellence in Education Network will have its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Dec. 16 via phone conference. More information is available by calling Lena Kleiner at (620) 877-0237.

  • Stiefel Theatre announces shows

    Tickets will go on sale Friday for three shows coming to Stiefel theatre in Salina. “Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny” will be at 2 p.m. Feb. 20. Milk and cookies will be served, and children are invited to wear pajamas.

  • Paint workshop to be offered Thursday

    “That Paint Thang,” presented by Marion Rec, will be 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the basement of the Marion Community Center. Workshops are intended for ages 13 years and older. Space and supplies are limited.

MORE…

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