Marion County RECORD

HEADLINES

The war on poachers has no front line
In a war that has no frontline, it’s hard for game warden Cody Morris to know for sure if he’s winning the battle against poachers or not. Poachers won the latest skirmish when Morris discovered a deer carcass with its antlers sawed off Dec. 5 on 230th Rd. just east of Diamond Rd. after a county resident sent him a picture.
County votes to buy Straub
The county shop, and likely other county offices, will be moved to the former Straub building after commissioners at Monday’s meeting voted to purchase it for $325,000. Commissioner Randy Dallke said they hope to use the building in a way that streamlines county operations.
Post offices pounded by holiday parcels
County post offices are being bombarded by holiday parcels, and some weeks have processed about twice as many packages as they have Christmases past. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday kicking off the holiday consumer frenzy, Marion postmaster Lori Kelsey said her branch saw a large increase in parcels.
St. Luke employees raise $136,000 for renovation project
An internal drive conducted Nov. 14 to 18 at St. Luke Hospital produced pledges of $136,512 to boost the hospital’s Moving Forward Together campaign. The $1.5 million campaign will fund renovations at St. Luke Living Center and Medical Clinic scheduled to begin next year.
Alpine 7 gets 'stingy' for a good cause
It was a busy time last week as the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps group known as Alpine Seven rehabilitated apartments at Homestead Affordable Housing in Marion. “We got a lot of work done,” team leader Ashley White said. “We got all nine apartments done that needed to be repainted and cleaned, and an extra 11 apartments needed to have carpets ripped up, and we got all that accomplished in four and a half days.”
Firefighters to be cleaner, safer
Florence firefighters as well as those in neighboring departments will be cleaner and safer because of a grant from the State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Kansas Firefighter Recruitment and Safety Grant program selected Florence and five other fire departments in the state to get specialized washer/extractor machines designed to remove dangerous chemicals and particulate matter from bunker gear worn to fight fires.
Board visits schools
Marion-Florence school board members had to go back to school Monday morning. Visits to each school were part of an annual tour of buildings, where they saw classrooms, talked to students and children, and got a taste of what’s happening in each building.

OTHER HEADLINES

Search for a new superintendent is underway
Although USD 408 superintendent Lee Leiker’s resignation doesn’t take effect until the end of the school year, the search for someone to fill his shoes is underway. The job opening is already posted on four education-related websites including the Kansas Association of School Boards website. Completed applications are due to KASB between Jan. 14 and 17.
Disability board to talk service needs
A Monday meeting in Marion will address needs of developmentally disabled residents. Harvey-Marion County Community Developmental Disability Organization board of directors will meet at 4 p.m. Monday at Marion Community Center Ballroom, 203 N. 3rd St.
Man arrested on multiple charges
Sheriff’s deputies arrested Peabody resident Timothy Hahn, 62, on suspicion of domestic battery, possession of marijuana, and possession of paraphernalia Dec. 7. Sheriff Robert Craft declined to comment further, noting that the case had not yet gone to court.

DEATHS

Palmer Base
Former farmer and dairyman Palmer Base, 88, died Saturday at Salina Regional Health Center. A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Temple Church, Gypsum. Interment will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Peace Valley Cemetery, rural Roxbury. Family will receive guests from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the church before the service.
Charles Carlson
Charles Carlson, 91, died Dec. 6 at Herington Municipal Hospital. He was born April 26, 1925, to Algot R. and Sadie L. Carlson north of Burdick.
Tom Reid
A service is today at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Florence, with the Rosary being recited at 10 a.m., and a funeral mass beginning at 10:30 a.m. A committal service will be at 1:30 p.m. at Tampa Lutheran Cemetery in Tampa.
Elsie Reiswig
Elsie E. Reiswig, 80, died Dec. 6 at St. Luke Living Center in Marion. She was born on Oct. 23, 1936, to Elmer and Emma (Martz) Abell in Kansas City, Kansas. She attended school in Olathe.
IN MEMORIAM:
James South
IN MEMORIAM:
David Thomas

DOCKET

OPINION

The charity of strangers
There’s something rather humbling about standing in the foyer of Carlson’s Grocery talking with two young strangers who are about to donate $300 of items to our local food bank. Emma and Ashley were from New York and Virginia, and they came to town with a group of kids from Oregon, California, Minnesota, and elsewhere with the crazy idea that they were going to change the world, one project at a time. At 18 to 24 years old they’re not exactly kids, but as I zero in on 60, they sure look like it.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
Dodging the Christmas cactus
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
Callous comment

PEOPLE

Odds'n Ends lights up for Christmas
Odds’n Ends owner Peni Ens loves lights, and there’s no clearer sign of that then to drive by the business on Main St. and see it decked out in holiday flair. “You can tell that I love Christmas lights,” Ens said.
Higgins family gathers early for Christmas
The Higgins family met Sunday at Marion Senior Center for its annual Christmas dinner. Those who attended were Ken and Marla Bowers, St. Louis, Missouri; Georgia Higgins and Tracy Higgins, El Dorado; Gail and Sandra Dody, Brad Dody and Missy Vance, Kara Dody, Karen Smith, and Margie Talbott, all of Wichita.
20th Century Club celebrates the holidays
Seventeen members of 20th Century Club were welcomed by Gayle Thomas into her home on Dec. 5. Members ate snacks and drank hot apple cider prepared by Thomas and the other hostesses, Jami Mayfield, Belinda Skiles, Becky Summerville, and Diane Sams.
Neo-Century Club collects money for stage park roofs
Neo-Century Club met Dec. 5 at Hilltop Manor. One guest and 14 members answered role call by donating $15 to Marion Advancement Campaign for a roof on the Central Park stage. Elaine Morse gave devotions.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Alicia Mueller
MEMORIES:
10, 25, 35, 50, 60, 100, 125 years ago
SENIOR CENTER:
Christmas spirit takes over, Senior menu

SCHOOL

Flint Hills maps presented to schools
Author Wendell Barry once said, “If you don’t know where you are, you don’t know who you are.” Centre, Goessel, Marion, and Peabody-Burns students are being given the opportunity to learn more about the special environment in which they live, namely the Flint Hills. This area extends into Marion County and is said to be the last expanse of tallgrass prairie in the country.
Barney wins ag sales competition
Centre FFA competed Dec. 7 in South Central District career development events in Marion. Zach Barney was a member of the ag sales A-team with Dylan Deines, Max Svoboda, and Greg Oborny. Barney finished first individually, and the team placed second.
Area school menus

SENIOR LIVING

Adams to end longest run as co-op manager
A five-year plan turned into a 31-year run at Cooperative Grain and Supply for manager Lyman Adams. He joined the grain cooperative in January 1986 and will retire in the next month or two.
Home care might become necessary
Home care might become more of a trend in health care, according to Jaynette Miller, APRN at St. Luke Medical Center in Marion. “I think home care will be looked at more frequently,” Miller said. “It just appears to be necessary with the associated cost of some care facilities.”

SPORTS

Warriors hoops teams place third in home classic
Berean Academy turned out to be just an opening round bump in the road for Marion, as both boys’ and girls’ teams scored wins over Wichita Homeschool and Eureka to place third in the Marion Classic. Thursday’s matchup against Wichita was just what the doctor ordered for an ailing boys’ offense, as a Mason Pedersen 3-ball from the deep left corner and another on an inbounds play were bookends to a 10-2 run to start the game. Pedersen ripped a pinpoint pass under the bucket to Peyton Heidebrecht for a bucket-and-one to put Marion ahead 19-12 at the end of the first quarter.
Centre boys finish 2-1, girls 1-2 at preseason tournament
Centre Cougars showed their talent last week at the Herington Pre-season Tournament by winning two of three matchups. They defeated Wichita Classic on Friday, 51-46, and Herington on Saturday, 39-35, to take third place. The Lady Cougars won 34-31 against Wichita Classic Friday but lost to Madison, 50-41, Saturday, finishing fourth.
Wrestlers take 2nd at Hesston despite limited roster
Filling only half of the weight classes, the Marion High School wrestling team grappled good enough to grasp second place out of 16 teams Saturday at Hesston. The Warriors scored 126 team points narrowly edging out Chaparral by 1 point, and losing to Hesston by only a 14-point gap.
Marion County Dual tournament is Friday

UPCOMING EVENTS

Calendar of Events
International children's choir performs Sunday
International children’s choir His Little Feet will perform at a community Christmas service at 6 p.m. Sunday at USD 408 Performing Arts Center. The choir of children ages 6 to 12 are orphaned and rescued from Ethiopia, Haiti, India, and Kenya. While the children are a part of the choir, they participate in His Little Feet’s nationwide “Sons and Daughters” international children’s choir tour.
"A Christmas Carol" coming to McPherson
A unique nationally touring adaptation of Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Monday at McPherson Opera House. Tickets range from $25 to $35, or $10 for students.
TEEN to have Dec. 21 phone conference
Technology Excellence in Education Network (TEEN) will initiate a phone conference at 6 p.m. Dec. 21 from USD 410 Central Office in Hillsboro. For questions or more information, please call Lena Kleiner at (620) 877-0237.
Commodities available in Marion
Government surplus commodities will arrive at the Marion Senior Center and be distributed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 22 at Marion Senior Center. If no commodities are left, call the Department of Aging at (620) 382-3580.

Marion County RECORD

The county shop, and likely other county offices, will be moved to the former Straub building after commissioners at Monday’s meeting voted to purchase it for $325,000. Commissioner Randy Dallke said they hope to use the building in a way that streamlines county operations.

An internal drive conducted Nov. 14 to 18 at St. Luke Hospital produced pledges of $136,512 to boost the hospital’s Moving Forward Together campaign. The $1.5 million campaign will fund renovations at St. Luke Living Center and Medical Clinic scheduled to begin next year.

Marion-Florence school board members had to go back to school Monday morning. Visits to each school were part of an annual tour of buildings, where they saw classrooms, talked to students and children, and got a taste of what’s happening in each building.

A Monday meeting in Marion will address needs of developmentally disabled residents. Harvey-Marion County Community Developmental Disability Organization board of directors will meet at 4 p.m. Monday at Marion Community Center Ballroom, 203 N. 3rd St.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested Peabody resident Timothy Hahn, 62, on suspicion of domestic battery, possession of marijuana, and possession of paraphernalia Dec. 7. Sheriff Robert Craft declined to comment further, noting that the case had not yet gone to court.

Charles Carlson, 91, died Dec. 6 at Herington Municipal Hospital. He was born April 26, 1925, to Algot R. and Sadie L. Carlson north of Burdick.

A service is today at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Florence, with the Rosary being recited at 10 a.m., and a funeral mass beginning at 10:30 a.m. A committal service will be at 1:30 p.m. at Tampa Lutheran Cemetery in Tampa.

Elsie E. Reiswig, 80, died Dec. 6 at St. Luke Living Center in Marion. She was born on Oct. 23, 1936, to Elmer and Emma (Martz) Abell in Kansas City, Kansas. She attended school in Olathe.

IN MEMORIAM:

IN MEMORIAM:

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

Odds’n Ends owner Peni Ens loves lights, and there’s no clearer sign of that then to drive by the business on Main St. and see it decked out in holiday flair. “You can tell that I love Christmas lights,” Ens said.

Seventeen members of 20th Century Club were welcomed by Gayle Thomas into her home on Dec. 5. Members ate snacks and drank hot apple cider prepared by Thomas and the other hostesses, Jami Mayfield, Belinda Skiles, Becky Summerville, and Diane Sams.

Neo-Century Club met Dec. 5 at Hilltop Manor. One guest and 14 members answered role call by donating $15 to Marion Advancement Campaign for a roof on the Central Park stage. Elaine Morse gave devotions.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS:

MEMORIES:

SENIOR CENTER:

Centre FFA competed Dec. 7 in South Central District career development events in Marion. Zach Barney was a member of the ag sales A-team with Dylan Deines, Max Svoboda, and Greg Oborny. Barney finished first individually, and the team placed second.

A five-year plan turned into a 31-year run at Cooperative Grain and Supply for manager Lyman Adams. He joined the grain cooperative in January 1986 and will retire in the next month or two.

Home care might become more of a trend in health care, according to Jaynette Miller, APRN at St. Luke Medical Center in Marion. “I think home care will be looked at more frequently,” Miller said. “It just appears to be necessary with the associated cost of some care facilities.”

Filling only half of the weight classes, the Marion High School wrestling team grappled good enough to grasp second place out of 16 teams Saturday at Hesston. The Warriors scored 126 team points narrowly edging out Chaparral by 1 point, and losing to Hesston by only a 14-point gap.

A unique nationally touring adaptation of Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Monday at McPherson Opera House. Tickets range from $25 to $35, or $10 for students.

Technology Excellence in Education Network (TEEN) will initiate a phone conference at 6 p.m. Dec. 21 from USD 410 Central Office in Hillsboro. For questions or more information, please call Lena Kleiner at (620) 877-0237.

Government surplus commodities will arrive at the Marion Senior Center and be distributed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 22 at Marion Senior Center. If no commodities are left, call the Department of Aging at (620) 382-3580.