PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

HEADLINES

Record wins 30 statewide awards
The Kansas City Chiefs weren’t the only area team to capture top honors this week. The team that produces this newspaper learned Tuesday that it won a near-record 30 statewide awards — three more than last year — in Kansas Press Association’s 2020 statewide competition for midsize non-dailies.
County considers plan to start recycling again
The county may soon be back in the business of recycling. County commissioners on Friday heard a suggestion from Dale Dalke, Hillsboro street superintendent, that recyclable materials could be taken to McPherson County Solid Waste Utility.
Sinkhole opens at Peabody intersection
A sinkhole that opened Saturday at Maple and 2nd Sts. in Peabody presented a possible safety hazard over the weekend, but it was better the hole opened up when it did, Peabody councilman Jay Gfeller said. “Any time there’s a dangerous situation, the fewer people around, the better,” he said. “Fortunately we’ve been blessed with that over the years that we haven’t had any major catastrophes.”
Transfer station set to begin next month
Work on a new transfer station could begin as early as March 2. County commissioners on Monday signed a $1,761,021 contract with Marion construction company Nelson-Fowles to begin work on an 80-by-76-foot building that will replace the existing transfer station on Santa Fe St.

OTHER NEWS

Florence brings back standards board
Florence city council reestablished a standards board Monday to combat nuisance vehicles and houses, with councilman Mary Shipman serving as the city’s representative. “I’ll do it,” she said. “Somebody has to stand up and have some balls.”
Tabor College sets business symposium
A symposium focusing on entrepreneurship is scheduled for business professionals from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 28 at Tabor College’s Shari Flaming Center for the Arts. Wichita psychologist and author Paul White, one of the inaugural event’s keynote speakers, will discuss effective workplace coaching.
Driver safety course scheduled
Driver safety courses will be available to all licensed drivers 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 17 at Marion Senior Center through the American Association of Retired Persons. Courses, which cost $20 or $15 for AARP members, are split into four one-hour classes and can be registered for at the senior center.
Natural medicine headlines Lifelong Learning
Inman natural health professional Connie Newcome will present a Lifelong Learning program about natural medicine 9:45 a.m. Feb. 7 in the Heritage Lobby within the Shari Flaming Center for the Arts. When her husband’s health worsened 38 years ago, Newcome was introduced to traditional medicine.
Car show committee to meet
K’s Car Show Committee in Burns will hold its first meeting 7 p.m. Friday at Pizza Rehea’s in Burns.
Car washes find good use for all that leftover mud
Finding a way to dispose of accumulated mud was a problem Bruce Skiles to solve before he signed on to operate Marion’s Rhino Car and Truck Wash. “Before I bought the car wash I was concerned about whether it was considered hazardous waste or if we had to take it to a special place,” he said.
Book of beloved rancher's stories helps fund heritage center
A book about the life of a well-known Cedar Point rancher who died in December, co-authored with Kansas State University associate professor of history and director of the Chapman Center Bonnie Lynn-Sherow, is now for sale as a fundraiser for a Flint Hills ranching heritage education center. “Sauble: Stories from the Flint Hills,” chronicles the life of natural-born storyteller Pat Sauble.
Marion woman hopes new ID law won't force a legal change
Marion resident Loretta Keazer hopes she won’t need to go to the extreme of having her name legally changed in order to get her Real ID driver’s license. Keazer wants to fly to Alaska sometime later this year to visit her son, but can’t board an airplane without a Real ID driver’s license.
Rent help available for mentally ill residents
County residents with severe mental illness could now get help with rent if they qualify. Prairie View Mental Health Center was given a $50,000 tenant-based rental assistance grant from Kansas Housing Resources Corporation to help people with severe mental illness afford safe and decent housing.

DEATHS

Laura Nickel
Services for Laura Lily Klaassen Wiebe Nickel, 99, who died Dec. 20 in Reedley, California, were Jan. 2 in Reedley. She was born Sept. 23, 1920, to Nicholas and Alwina Klaassen in Mountain Lake, Minnesota.
Stephen Davis
Funeral services for Stephen Davis, 72, of Kearney, Nebraska, will be 2 p.m. Saturday at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. He died Jan. 11 at Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney. Stephen was born and raised in Marion County.

DOCKET

FINANCE

Recognizing fraud important for census takers
With 2020’s census approaching, being able to spot real census workers will be key to avoid being ripped off, Marion police chief Clinton Jeffrey said. “It’s probably just scammers looking for whatever scam is popular at this point,” he said. “The census seems like it would be a good one to exploit for financial gain.”
New federal law changes IRA rule
A change in federal law regarding required minimum distributions from individual retirement accounts means some people will not have to start taking distributions in 2020. Marion lawyer Bob Brookens said under old law, IRA owners were required to start taking minimum distributions the year they turn 70½. The new law, which went into effect Jan. 1, changes the age to 72.
Accountant values business on local scale
Korie Hatton grew up in a small town, so starting her business in a community where she can get to know clients is important to her as a budding accountant. “In a smaller community it’s more of a personal service,” she said. “It’s getting to know your clients’ personal and financial situations to where you can tailor their needs to the services you offer.”

OPINION

Talking trash about recycling
Blasphemy! Given the madrassa-like fervor with which most of us are indoctrinated into environmentalism, that surely will be many people’s reaction to any editorial raising questions about recycling. So before we go there, let’s establish some credentials.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
A Gillwood's breakfast

PEOPLE

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SCHOOL AND SPORTS

Centre spoils Peabody-Burns' homecoming
A large crowd turned out for Peabody-Burns’ winter homecoming ceremony Friday, but their community support wasn’t enough to produce wins for their basketball teams. Both fell to Centre. The girls lost, 61-34; the boys lost, 55-34. Girls After jumping to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter and trailing by one at the end of the quarter, a disastrous second quarter in which Centre outscored the Warriors 21-3 put the girls team in a hole they couldn’t climb out of. They scored 10 points in the third quarter and outscored Centre 9-8 in the fourth quarter but finished with a 27-point loss.
Spaghetti feed will raise funds for cheerleader
A spaghetti feed from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Peabody American Legion will benefit Kaete Johnson’s trip to Cheer Hawaii in June. Cost is by donation. There will also be a raffle for $500 gift cards for Cabela’s, or Target, Hobby Lobby, Kohl’s or Von Maur. Tickets are $20.
Peabody student to perform at piano competition
Peabody-Burns High School senior Aubrey Craig will perform at 11:39 a.m. Saturday during Friends University’s District Piano Contest. Craig has performed at the district contest two years in a row and earned a 1 rating to compete at state both years.

PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

The county may soon be back in the business of recycling. County commissioners on Friday heard a suggestion from Dale Dalke, Hillsboro street superintendent, that recyclable materials could be taken to McPherson County Solid Waste Utility.

Work on a new transfer station could begin as early as March 2. County commissioners on Monday signed a $1,761,021 contract with Marion construction company Nelson-Fowles to begin work on an 80-by-76-foot building that will replace the existing transfer station on Santa Fe St.

Florence city council reestablished a standards board Monday to combat nuisance vehicles and houses, with councilman Mary Shipman serving as the city’s representative. “I’ll do it,” she said. “Somebody has to stand up and have some balls.”

Driver safety courses will be available to all licensed drivers 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 17 at Marion Senior Center through the American Association of Retired Persons. Courses, which cost $20 or $15 for AARP members, are split into four one-hour classes and can be registered for at the senior center.

Inman natural health professional Connie Newcome will present a Lifelong Learning program about natural medicine 9:45 a.m. Feb. 7 in the Heritage Lobby within the Shari Flaming Center for the Arts. When her husband’s health worsened 38 years ago, Newcome was introduced to traditional medicine.

K’s Car Show Committee in Burns will hold its first meeting 7 p.m. Friday at Pizza Rehea’s in Burns.

Finding a way to dispose of accumulated mud was a problem Bruce Skiles to solve before he signed on to operate Marion’s Rhino Car and Truck Wash. “Before I bought the car wash I was concerned about whether it was considered hazardous waste or if we had to take it to a special place,” he said.

Marion resident Loretta Keazer hopes she won’t need to go to the extreme of having her name legally changed in order to get her Real ID driver’s license. Keazer wants to fly to Alaska sometime later this year to visit her son, but can’t board an airplane without a Real ID driver’s license.

County residents with severe mental illness could now get help with rent if they qualify. Prairie View Mental Health Center was given a $50,000 tenant-based rental assistance grant from Kansas Housing Resources Corporation to help people with severe mental illness afford safe and decent housing.

Services for Laura Lily Klaassen Wiebe Nickel, 99, who died Dec. 20 in Reedley, California, were Jan. 2 in Reedley. She was born Sept. 23, 1920, to Nicholas and Alwina Klaassen in Mountain Lake, Minnesota.

Funeral services for Stephen Davis, 72, of Kearney, Nebraska, will be 2 p.m. Saturday at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. He died Jan. 11 at Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney. Stephen was born and raised in Marion County.

Blasphemy! Given the madrassa-like fervor with which most of us are indoctrinated into environmentalism, that surely will be many people’s reaction to any editorial raising questions about recycling. So before we go there, let’s establish some credentials.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

CALENDAR:

SENIOR CENTER:

A spaghetti feed from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Peabody American Legion will benefit Kaete Johnson’s trip to Cheer Hawaii in June. Cost is by donation. There will also be a raffle for $500 gift cards for Cabela’s, or Target, Hobby Lobby, Kohl’s or Von Maur. Tickets are $20.

Peabody-Burns High School senior Aubrey Craig will perform at 11:39 a.m. Saturday during Friends University’s District Piano Contest. Craig has performed at the district contest two years in a row and earned a 1 rating to compete at state both years.