PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

Disk golf is a laid back walk in the park

It’s been something of a dull summer, with there being no tournaments and all; but Jacob Bruntz is still winging discs around Peabody City Park, taking part in a sport that’s become a statewide fad. Bruntz plays disc golf with a few of the dozen or so course regulars, he said, three or four times a week. Some of them he actually met on the disc golf course.

City seeks water problem remedies

Council members heard that Pat McCool of Kansas Rural Water Association spent an afternoon in Peabody recently to meet with Mayor Larry Larsen and Hillsboro water technician Morgan Marler about water problems in Peabody. McCool spelled out specific things the city could do to alleviate some problems and complaints about Peabody’s “red water.”

County considers state bridge assistance

County commissioners approved a $23.3 million budget for 2015 Monday, increasing budget authority while holding the line on taxes as a result of increased property valuations. Proposed departmental budgets were scrutinized at several prior meetings, but commissioner Randy Dallke wanted answers to some questions before the vote was cast.

Cameras keep officers, residents in check

In wake of the Ferguson, Missouri police shooting, several large police departments across the country are looking at supplying officers with body cameras to debunk any questions after a confrontation, but Marion Police Department is ahead of the curve. For the past year, every officer on the department except Chief Tyler Mermis, because he isn’t often on active duty, has been required to use the cameras while on duty. After talking with other departments across the state, Mermis believes Marion is the smallest department in the state using the cameras since the department purchased four cameras from TASER last April for around $2,500.

Labor Day weekend festival starts Saturday in Florence

The 77th annual Florence Labor Day celebration begins 8 a.m. Saturday with citywide garage sales, bake sales, Market on Main, soap box derby, and more. Events featured include a scavenger hunt for a Labor Day medallion hidden on public property within the city of Florence. The first clue is available at the information booth Saturday morning. The winner receives $77.00.

Livestock "more acclimated," but heat still dangerous

Joyce Olsen of Aulne has seen her fair share of hot summers, and this year has not been one of the hottest. Nonetheless, 100 degrees is 100 degrees, and her hogs need protection from the conditions. “Heat like this will kill a sow or a hog,” she said, “because they don’t sweat.”

Janzen battles cancer with support of wife

Many things have changed for Steve and Phoebe Janzen since Steve was diagnosed with stage IV terminal pancreatic cancer just after Christmas. For the last few months, it has been hard for Steve to even complete normal daily activities.

Computer company seized over taxes

A yellow seizure sign appeared Tuesday morning on the door of Great Plains Computer and Networking at 324 E. Main St. in Marion. The business, owned by Lloyd Davies, owes the state $24,010.55 in unpaid taxes dating back to 2005. Tuesday the Kansas Department of Revenue and Marion County Sheriff seized all business assets, inventory, and personal property of Davies, which will be sold at a public auction to pay taxes owed.

State fire marshal warns of fire challenge

Social media’s latest viral fad is literally just teens setting themselves on fire. State Fire Marshal Doug Jorgensen sent out a release Thursday urging Kansans not to take part in the “fire challenge.”

Commission approves county budget

County commissioners approved a $23.3 million budget for 2015 Monday, increasing budget authority while holding the line on taxes as a result of increased property valuations. Proposed departmental budgets were scrutinized at several prior meetings, but commissioner Randy Dallke wanted answers to some questions before the vote was cast.

Bridge collision kills Gypsum man

A Gypsum man died Aug. 20 when his car collided with a concrete bridge railing on 290th Rd. between Nighthawk and Mustang Rds. Undersheriff David Huntley said Richard G. Hoye, 73, was westbound on the Lincolnville-Durham road at approximately noon when the car crossed the road and the driver’s side tires went onto the south shoulder. The car struck the railing head-on and fell into the creek bed, coming to rest on the west bank south of the bridge.

Couple receives anniversary surprise from 12-year-old

Harlow and Edith Warneke knew almost everyone who sent 130 cards for their 70th wedding anniversary. They were perplexed, however, by one small, white envelope from an unfamiliar rural Hillsboro address. Inside, they found an intricate drawing of horses and a handmade card.

State fire marshal warns of fire challenge

Social media’s latest viral fad is literally just teens setting themselves on fire. State Fire Marshal Doug Jorgensen sent out a release Thursday urging Kansans not to take part in the “fire challenge.”

Attorney General warns of tech scam

The attorney general is warning residents of scammers attempting to gain personal information or hijacking computers via phone. The caller will say they are with a well-known computer company and need resident’s information to install an update over the phone on a resident’s computer to protect it from viruses.

Homestead unveils completed atrium renovations at September Apartments

Community members got their first look Friday at the remodeled Marion Atrium building at a ribbon cutting ceremony at September Apartments. Tom Bishop, executive director of Homestead Affordable Housing, told 20 present the work was long overdue.

Kenneth L. Pigorsch

Kenneth L. Pigorsch, 81, a lifelong resident of Herington, died Aug. 16 at Herington Municipal Hospital. Funeral services were Aug. 19 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. He was buried in Sunset Hill Cemetery with military honors. Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Accidents reported

Civil division cases

County Jail arrests and bookings

Criminal division cases

Deeds recorded

Emergency dispatches

Hillsboro incident report

Marriage licenses issued

Offenses reported

Traffic division cases

"Garden fairy" spreads magic colors

Her main supervisor couldn’t remember her last name. To the ladies of Main Street Ministries in Hillsboro, she is known as, simply, “Terry the Garden Fairy.” Terry Shewey said that six or seven years ago, the MSM director at the time, Lillian Bookless, asked her to help with a garden they were planning for the corner of W. D St. and Main St. Bookless knew Shewey from church, and knew she had an interest in and talent for gardening.

House gets makeover after 40 years

The farmhouse southwest of Marion being renovated from top to bottom is not just another house to its new owners, Neal and Christine Hett. It’s the home in which Neal and his three older brothers and sister grew up, and it’s where they and their children gathered to hear Willard Hett’s stories and play together. Willard built the house in 1974. Neal and Christine inherited the house after Willard died in February. For them, renovating the house is a labor of love and a means of preserving it for future generations.

Couple restoring house to restore selves

John Branson is looking for ways to give back to a town that has given him so much. After a friend’s passing, John and his wife, Trisha, bought a house in Florence to remodel and use as a getaway from their hectic lives in Wichita. John, a pastor, said that after a long week it is good for his soul to get away to a town less busy.

Architectural salvage spans county

Twenty years ago, rotten floors and wayward customers turned prospective antique dealers Marion Ogden and Dennis Maggard into architectural salvage entrepreneurs. Before opening Bearly Makin’ It Antiques, the pair needed to replace rotted sections of the floor in the former Beaston Market building on Marion’s Main Street.

Don't rain on my bucket

“No good deed goes unpunished,” so the old saying goes, and the newest example of that is the ice-bucket challenge for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Marion County has its fair share of folks who have been swept up in the social media craze that’s raised more than $70 million for the ALS Association, an organization that provides services and funds research. By comparison, the association raised $2 million during the same time last year.

Suddenly I have a famous nickname

A rather strange thing happened a couple of weeks ago when The Married Daughter and What’s His Name traveled off to the eastern most reaches of Kellogg St. in Wichita for a flea market event. They went to a convenience store in the area to purchase some gas, snack food, and water. About mid-way through their excursion my Facebook page blinked to life and there was a picture of a bottle of water with the word “Fred” across the front. The Married Daughter messaged that they were trying to find out where the product was made to see if I might be heir to a water conglomerate. You see, my maiden name was Fred, just like George, Martin, or Samuel. I admit there were not too many of us. Yes, it is an unusual name and yes, it was a source of great hilarity for classmates and older brothers of various good friends during most of my youth. “Fred, Fred, wet the bed…” and other sing-song type rhymes followed me around the neighborhood, parks, and playgrounds. Luckily, I did not know this was a form of bullying. I was kind of a hefty kid and just beat the tar out of those other kids when I had enough. Fred, I am!

Days of Yore

Peabody-Burns High School homecoming royalty candidates are Ryan Gaines, Andrea Ferren, Kate Topham, Mario Nava, Brandon Crabtree, and Tiana McGee. Rural Peabody resident Mike Reynolds and his red bone coonhound, Buddy, are training to be part of Sedgwick Co. Emergency Management K-9 team, which uses dogs in search and rescue.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

Putting the labor in labor day

With Labor Day on the horizon, recreation area workers are gearing up for one of the busiest weekends of their summer season. “It’s gonna be full out here, or probably pretty close to it,” Marion Reservoir office administrator Torey Hett said.

Library gets new windows

The interior of the Florence Library will be a little brighter and less drafty after three large windows on the north side of the building were replaced last week. A combination of a $1,000 Community Foundation grant and an additional $500 covered the cost after the window’s sills were found to be rotten and the windows in danger of collapsing.

WONSEVU:

BURNS:

One more new teacher

Micki Fryhover of Newton has been hired to teach middle school English to Peabody-Burns students, replacing Annette Weems, who resigned shortly before the school year started. This will be her sixth year teaching that age group. She taught at Coleman Middle School in Wichita and at Santa Fe 5/6 Center in Newton. She also was a substitute teacher for the Newton district for two years.

Tournament will kick off volleyball season

Six area high school volleyball teams will participate Saturday in a round-robin varsity tournament beginning at 9 a.m. in Peabody-Burns High School gymnasiums. Participating schools are Burlingame, Burrton, Central Burden, Chase County, Hartford, and Peabody-Burns.

FFA members attend leadership conference

Peabody FFA members joined 280 members from across the state to develop their leadership skills during the State Conference for Chapter Leaders at Rock Springs near Junction City. Chapter leaders attending were Josh Morgan, president; Dakota Reynolds, treasurer; Austin Reynolds, reporter; Brandon Tabolt, sentinel; and Gretchen Berns, adviser.

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