Marion County RECORD

HEADLINES

Hesston police chief 'just did his job,' sister-in-law says
Doug Schroeder, Hesston police chief who took down the gunman in Thursday’s shooting incident at Excel Industries, was a native of Goessel and graduated from Goessel High School. His sister-in-law, Megan Duerksen, is a paraprofessional at Goessel High School. She said she learned to know Schroeder after he married her sister.
Preschool worker charged in connection with Hesston shooting
Sarah J. Hopkins, 28, Newton, a preschool parent advocate for USD 410 Lehigh-Hillsboro-Durham, was charged in federal court Friday with knowingly supplying an assault rifle and handgun to convicted felon Cedric Ford, the gunman who killed three people and injured 14 in a shooting rampage Thursday in Hesston. U.S. Attorney for Kansas Barry Grissom’s office announced Friday afternoon one charge of knowingly transferring a firearm to a convicted felon had been filed against Hopkins.
Council moves ahead with one-way streets, Main St. resurfacing
Marion City Council members zeroed in on the issue of downtown one-way streets Monday, preferring to focus on converting Third St. between Main and Santa Fe Sts. to two-way traffic while leaving others as is. A determining factor appeared to be the trade-off of parking reductions needed to provide sufficient space for two-way traffic on one-way segments of Second and Fourth Sts. north of Main St.
Phil Vassar and Lindsay Ell to headline Chingawassa Days
American country artist Phil Vassar and Canadian country artist Lindsay Ell will be headlining acts at Chingawassa Days from June 3 to 5 this year. Vassar, who will headline on June 4, is a singer, songwriter, and pianist whose signature songs include 10 No. 1 singles and 26 Top 40 hits, including “Carlene,” “Just Another Day in Paradise,” “Six-Pack Summer,” and “That’s When I Love You,” according to his website.
Falconer hunts with birds, not bullets
Imagine a blurred object hurtling from the sky as fast as 250 mph and striking a small moving target with pinpoint deadly accuracy. No, it is not a smart bomb, or even Superman. It is a raptor, a bird of prey, doing what Mother Nature designed it to do with a little help from its human friend.
Council casts eye on another dilapidated house
Continuing its quest to spruce up Marion by targeting long-neglected properties, city council members turned their collective gaze Monday on a potentially hazardous Santa Fe St. house. The large two-story distressed white house at 118 W. Santa Fe St. has a unique alcove garage, with pillars supporting the southeast corner of the second floor.
Legislators play to small but tough crowd
A tax lid voted in by legislators late in the 2015 session and school financing were the dominant issues at Saturday’s legislative coffee in Marion. About 20 people came to hear District 70 Representative John Barker and District 35 Senator Rick Wilborn at Marion Community Center.
Newspaper wins record 25 awards
Hoch Publishing Company, publisher of the Marion County Record, Hillsboro Star-Journal, and Peabody Gazette-Bulletin,had a banner year in the Kansas Press Association 2015 Awards of Excellence competition, netting a record 25 awards. “It’s gratifying to receive such recognition from our professional peers,” news editor David Colburn said. “First and foremost, we work together as a team to produce high-quality newspapers for our readers and advertisers. Awards are secondary, but winning a record number of them affirms that we’re focused on our primary goals.”

OTHER HEADLINES

Ladies fair draws avid shoppers
Tamara Christiansen’s booth at Marion County Ladies Fair was a hopping place Saturday, with women trying on clothes and fingering jewelry. Christiansen, the former owner of Plantations in Marion, said setting up a booth at the Ladies Fair, held at Marion County Lake Hall, was good exposure for her new traveling boutique, “Urbane Soule,” and gave her the opportunity to see familiar faces from the Plantation days.
Commission mulls EcoDevo
Bank loans and social media were just a couple of the economic development meeting topics commissioners discussed at Monday’s meeting. The Feb. 18 meeting, which was attended by roughly 60 to 70 people, was to hear from county business owners.
Planning director resigns
Planning and Zoning Department Director Tonya Richards gave commissioners her two-week notice at Monday’s meeting. Richards, who has been the director since June 2008, told commissioners she has taken another job offer in Topeka, and her last day of work would be March 11.
Crochet keeps woman's fingers moving
Chris Kerns, 78, of Marion has arthritis in her hands but that doesn’t keep her from crocheting, something she loves to do. Kerns said she learned to crochet from her grandmother when she was 10 years old.

DEATHS

Myrta Bartel
Myrta G. Bartel, 87, died Saturday at Kidron Bethel in North Newton. She was born April 1, 1928, to Frank and Kathryn (Krause) Klassen in Newton. She married Johnnie M. Bartel Jan. 20, 1950, in Newton. She was a homemaker.
Mary Ann Brown
Mary Ann (Donahue) Brown, 73, Herington, died Feb. 25 at the Herington Municipal Hospital after a long battle with cancer. She was born July 17, 1942, to Edward E. and M. Ernestine “Teen” (Yancey) Donahue in Hillsboro.
Laura Flaming
Laura (Schmidt) Flaming, 84, North Newton, died Feb. 22. Family visitation is set for Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. A memorial service will be Sunday at 4 p.m. Both will be at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, Goessel.
Grace Weber
Grace E. Weber, 86, died Feb. 25 in Wichita. A graveside service was Monday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Cemetery in Hillsboro.
IN MEMORIAM:
Betty Axman
IN MEMORIAM:
Edla Freeland
IN MEMORIAM:
Edward Jeffrey

DOCKET

FINANCE

Changes in deductions could limit benefits
While state income taxes are lower this year, changes in what can be deducted could limit the benefit taxpayers see. Although Kansas income tax rates have dropped, with the bottom income tax bracket at 2.7 percent and the top bracket at 4.8 percent, several often-used deductions have been eliminated.
Tax payers beware: tax season is scam season
Taxpayers beware: tax season affords scammers more opportunities to attempt to pilfer hard-earned money. “We see a few more scams this time of year,” Sheriff Robert Craft said. “There’s more cash out there. It’s on everybody’s mind, and scams work a little better this time of year.”

OPINION

Button up for Chinga country
Leave it to Marion’s Chingawassa Days committee to score big with its musical headliners for this year’s festival, and bring me down at the same time. Being more attuned to jazz or rhythm and blues, I don’t really know that much about country music.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
We've Gotta Grow Up!

PEOPLE

Tabatabais celebrate 50th anniversary
Donna Newsom Tabatabai, daughter of the late Rendel and Gertrude Newsom of Marion, and her husband Kasim will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday. They were married March 5, 1966, in the Marion Presbyterian Church.
Brenzikofer reception to mark 80th birthday
The community is invited to a reception honoring Rhonda Brenzikofer’s 80th birthday from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Marion Senior Center. The event is put on by her daughters and grandchildren, who request no presents.
Neufeld serenades Beta club with harmonica
The Sorosis Beta Club learned about harmonicas from Rudy Neufeld at the Feb. 18 meeting. The presentation included the history and playing of harmonicas. Community Improvement chairman Norma Patton suggested that the club have a shower for The Hub.
MEMORIES:
10, 25, 35, 50, 60, 100, 125 years ago
SENIOR CENTER:
Obermeyer brings birthday treats, Senior menu

SCHOOL

MHS students to perform 'Dearly Departed'
A dedicated troupe of Marion High School thespians are in the thick of preparing for the school’s spring comedy, “Dearly Departed.” Most of the students will be exercising thick southern accents as the play is set in the Baptist backwoods of the Bible Belt. Director Janet Killough said the play revolves around the beleaguered Turpin family after the death of its patriarch.
Students to match wits on business
Business-minded students from Marion and Hillsboro high schools will wage a battle of ideas Tuesday at the inaugural Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge at Tabor College. The competition gives high school students experience in the process of making a business proposal. To compete, students must research, write and submit an executive summary on a new venture concept.
Area school menus

SPORTS

Warriors blow away Tornados
Led by Kourtney Hansen, the Marion High School girls got off to a fast start Tuesday night against Eureka and kept their feet on the gas, swamping the Tornadoes 60-23 to advance to the 3A substate semifinals. Marion blitzed Eureka with a crushing 15-0 run over the first 4 minutes and 30 seconds of the game before the Tornadoes scored their only basket of the first quarter. Hansen had 10 points in the quarter.
Cougars win 2 on the road
Centre boys’ basketball team finished its regular season with a bang last week with a 70-57 victory over Peabody-Burns and a 61-52 victory over Blue Valley-Randolph.” “We are a team whose Achilles’ heel is the first quarter,” Coach Richard Idleman said. “We were behind 14-5 in the first quarter, improved to 29-21 at halftime, and progressed from there. We shut them down in the third quarter, holding them to 6 points, and we scored offensively to take a 40-35 lead.”
2 wrestlers place at state tournament
Dads get ready to become Olympians
Marion County dads might want to start training to take up the Olympic torch now, or at least do a little stretching “Daddy Olympics” will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Marion Sports and Aquatic Center.

UPCOMING

Calendar of events
Symphony tickets on sale Saturday
Tickets for the 2016 Symphony in the Flint Hills will go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. General admission tickets are $90 or adults and $50 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased by calling (816) 471-0400.
Fall prevention topic at Lifelong Learning
Causes of osteoporosis and fall risks will be the focus of a two-part series that begins at 9:45 a.m. Friday at the Wohlgemuth Music Education Center at Tabor College. Hillsboro physician Alicia Schmidt and physical therapist Amber Monson will present the sessions as part of Tabor’s Lifelong Learning program. The second session is scheduled for March 18.
TEEN to meet March 9
Technology Excellence in Education Network will meet 6 p.m. March 9 at USD 408 District Office in Marion. More information is available by calling Lena Kleiner at (620) 877-0237.

Marion County RECORD

Imagine a blurred object hurtling from the sky as fast as 250 mph and striking a small moving target with pinpoint deadly accuracy. No, it is not a smart bomb, or even Superman. It is a raptor, a bird of prey, doing what Mother Nature designed it to do with a little help from its human friend.

A tax lid voted in by legislators late in the 2015 session and school financing were the dominant issues at Saturday’s legislative coffee in Marion. About 20 people came to hear District 70 Representative John Barker and District 35 Senator Rick Wilborn at Marion Community Center.

Bank loans and social media were just a couple of the economic development meeting topics commissioners discussed at Monday’s meeting. The Feb. 18 meeting, which was attended by roughly 60 to 70 people, was to hear from county business owners.

Planning and Zoning Department Director Tonya Richards gave commissioners her two-week notice at Monday’s meeting. Richards, who has been the director since June 2008, told commissioners she has taken another job offer in Topeka, and her last day of work would be March 11.

Chris Kerns, 78, of Marion has arthritis in her hands but that doesn’t keep her from crocheting, something she loves to do. Kerns said she learned to crochet from her grandmother when she was 10 years old.

Myrta G. Bartel, 87, died Saturday at Kidron Bethel in North Newton. She was born April 1, 1928, to Frank and Kathryn (Krause) Klassen in Newton. She married Johnnie M. Bartel Jan. 20, 1950, in Newton. She was a homemaker.

Mary Ann (Donahue) Brown, 73, Herington, died Feb. 25 at the Herington Municipal Hospital after a long battle with cancer. She was born July 17, 1942, to Edward E. and M. Ernestine “Teen” (Yancey) Donahue in Hillsboro.

Laura (Schmidt) Flaming, 84, North Newton, died Feb. 22. Family visitation is set for Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. A memorial service will be Sunday at 4 p.m. Both will be at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, Goessel.

Grace E. Weber, 86, died Feb. 25 in Wichita. A graveside service was Monday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Cemetery in Hillsboro.

IN MEMORIAM:

IN MEMORIAM:

IN MEMORIAM:

Taxpayers beware: tax season affords scammers more opportunities to attempt to pilfer hard-earned money. “We see a few more scams this time of year,” Sheriff Robert Craft said. “There’s more cash out there. It’s on everybody’s mind, and scams work a little better this time of year.”

Leave it to Marion’s Chingawassa Days committee to score big with its musical headliners for this year’s festival, and bring me down at the same time. Being more attuned to jazz or rhythm and blues, I don’t really know that much about country music.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

Donna Newsom Tabatabai, daughter of the late Rendel and Gertrude Newsom of Marion, and her husband Kasim will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday. They were married March 5, 1966, in the Marion Presbyterian Church.

The community is invited to a reception honoring Rhonda Brenzikofer’s 80th birthday from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Marion Senior Center. The event is put on by her daughters and grandchildren, who request no presents.

The Sorosis Beta Club learned about harmonicas from Rudy Neufeld at the Feb. 18 meeting. The presentation included the history and playing of harmonicas. Community Improvement chairman Norma Patton suggested that the club have a shower for The Hub.

MEMORIES:

SENIOR CENTER:

Marion County dads might want to start training to take up the Olympic torch now, or at least do a little stretching “Daddy Olympics” will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Marion Sports and Aquatic Center.

Tickets for the 2016 Symphony in the Flint Hills will go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. General admission tickets are $90 or adults and $50 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased by calling (816) 471-0400.

Technology Excellence in Education Network will meet 6 p.m. March 9 at USD 408 District Office in Marion. More information is available by calling Lena Kleiner at (620) 877-0237.