Marion County RECORD

County lake algae advisory elevated

A blue-green algae watch in effect most of the summer for Marion County Lake has been elevated to a more serious warning. The warning will remain in effect until at least Friday. The lake is among 11 bodies of water in Kansas under algae warnings. Eight other bodies of water are under less serious algae watches. Marion Reservoir is not among either group.

Drone search ends in surrender

Police and sheriff’s deputies aided by a thermal drone overhead searched through soybean and grass fields overnight Wednesday near 240th and Kanza Rds. for a domestic violence and kidnapping suspect. Although a heat signature of the suspect was identified in one of the fields, drone batteries had to be changed, and the suspect got away, surrendering peacefully Thursday evening at police headquarters to Chief Aaron Slater, whom he apparently trusted because of previous dealings with him as a police officer.

'I'm afraid to go over there': Property dispute comes before council

A Marion resident says he may take legal action if a dispute with a neighbor over property access can’t be resolved. Kim Friesen, 219 N. Cedar St., told Marion City Council during Monday’s meeting that the dispute began when he needed access to his neighbor’s property to perform work on his roof.

County rejects criticism curbs

County commissioners voted 3-2 Monday to reject a declaration that public disparagement and unfounded criticism of county employees not be tolerated, and directing public complaints be made to the county administrator. Clarke Dirks, Jonah Gehring, and Mike Beneke opposed the statement. Kent Becker, who introduced the statement, and Dan Holub supported it.

A new type of old settler: Exchange student's novel a 'love letter to Marion'

When Frederik Klein walks down Main St. in Marion on Saturday for Old Settlers Day, he’ll be returning to the town that inspired his novel. “The Stang: A Kansas Tale,” a 590-page fictional retelling of Klein’s years as a German exchange student in Marion, will be released Thursday. The self-published novel is, in Klein’s words, a “love letter to the city.”

Merry-go-round still broke down

One of Marion’s oldest settlers was supposed to return in time for Old Settlers Day, but the event will go forward without Central Park’s century-old Mitchell Whirl merry-go-round returning. There is no new completion date for restoration of the merry-go-round, which was more than a year ago. The initial goal was for the merry-go-round to be finished before Chingawassa Days and later by Labor Day or Art in the Park.

Marion addresses utility bill delays

Marion residents have faced delays receiving utility bills by mail. Some don’t get them until just days before the payment deadline. “I’ve had a couple people contact me,” council member Kevin
Burkholder said during Monday’s city council meeting. “A lot of times, they wouldn’t get their bill until the 10th or 11th. … I got mine I think, one time, actually on the 12th.”

Abandoned building saved

Firefighters from four departments saved an abandoned Peabody house Friday night after fire burned its back porch and spread into the attic. No one was injured.

Nobody injured in Goessel fire

A house fire Monday evening in the 200 block of N. Buller St. in Goessel left no injuries, officials say. Homeowners, according to appraisal records, Erin R. and Daniel G. Stephens at 202 N. Buller St. were not found in the home, Goessel fire chief Jeremy Voth said.

2 sheriff's dispatchers fired

Two Marion County dispatchers were fired this month over unrelated “personnel issues” still under investigation, Sheriff Jeff Soyez said. Chelsea Webber, who worked in the department for more than 15 years, the last three as director of dispatch, was let go Sept. 2. Former Peabody police officer Megan Chizek, who had had three separate stints as a dispatcher during her career, was dismissed Wednesday.

Hillsboro sets deadline for cleaning up property

Hillsboro council members have given Edward and Phyllis Richert until the first week in November to address conditions at their property at 314 N. Jefferson. Council unanimously approved an abatement resolution last week after a public hearing over junk vehicles, an unsafe accessory structure, and other conditions.

'Mill sale' didn't raise or lower taxes

Yellow signs around Marion bearing the words “mill sale” led a wanderer over the weekend to Bearly Makin’ It Antiques, much like following a yellow brick road. For co-owner Marion “Oggie” Ogden, the reasoning behind the words on the signs was simple.

Susan Kliewer

Services for Susan Kliewer, 74, rural Hillsboro, who died Sunday, will be 11 a.m. Saturday at First Mennonite Church, Hillsboro. Relatives will receive friends 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Jost Funeral Home. Private burial will be at French Creek Cemetery, rural Hillsboro.

Irma Koop

Services for Irma Lorene Koop, 100, who died Sept. 13, will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. Interment will be an hour before the service at the church cemetery. Born July 16, 1926, in Hillsboro to Jonathan and Marie (Plenert) Ratzlaff, she moved with her family when she was 2 years old to the panhandle of Oklahoma, where her father farmed during the Dust Bowl.

IN MEMORIAM:

IN MEMORIAM:

Accidents reported

Civil Division cases

County jail arrests and bookings

Criminal Division cases

Deeds recorded

Emergency dispatches

Offenses reported

Police activity reports

Traffic Division cases

Speak openly, listen intently, and bullies fade away

Courage. Dan Rather closed his newscasts with that one word — and for good reason. With the passing of the Greatest Generation, whose heroism knew no bounds in World War II, courage has been in shorter supply than jobs were in the Great Depression. Last week, when President Trump decided to ban three news organizations from the White House press room because he didn’t like their news coverage, he was going against court rulings as well as democratic decency. The First Amendment simply doesn’t allow government officials to punish journalists who they may dislike.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

AMERICA AT 250:

Raid documentary to be shown in Wichita

“Seized,” director Sharon Liese’s award-winning documentary about the now-disavowed 2023 raid on the The showing during Tall Grass Film Festival will be in the extensively restored 1,286-seat Orpheum Theatre. Tickets will be available at https://tallgrassfilmfestival2026.eventive.org/. A panel discussion is planned after the film.

Rail trips planned

Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad’s Flint Hills Express will offer a two-hour rail adventure at 10 a.m. Saturday through the Smoky Hill River valley. Trains will leave Abilene’s 1887 depot en route to Enterprise for tours of Hoffman Mill and shopping at the Country Store, featuring home-ground flour, cornmeal, and other mill products. Along the way, presentations will focus on how railroads built Kansas.

Pioneer Bluffs plans roundup

Pioneer Bluffs historic ranch at at 695 K-177 in Matfield Green will have its annual fall roundup 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 10 The day will feature face painting, children’s games and activities as well as arts and crafts. Food and work from local vendors also can be bought.

Senior Center menus

MEMORIES:

FOOTBALL:

VOLLEYBALL:

CROSS COUNTRY:

GOLF:

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