PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

HEADLINES

Cities lose COVID grants to county
Marion and Hillsboro were shut out but Marion County won a $167,000 grant Tuesday to help small businesses struggling after COVID-19 shutdowns. On Monday Marion had hired Ranson Citycode Financial, Wichita, to be administrator for the COVID-19 grant it hoped to get.
Rough road breaks sheriff's ankle after chase
Sheriff Rob Craft broke his ankle and will need surgery after stepping into a pile of gravel on Remington Rd. at the end of a brief high-speed chase Monday. April Fore, 32, Peabody, was driving a 2011 Toyota RAV-4 in the 500 block of S. 3rd St. in Marion when police chief Clinton Jeffrey spotted what appeared to be an expired license plate on her car. When he radioed in the license plate, the car came back with expired registration to James Williams, Marion. Fore also had a suspended driver’s license, Jeffrey said.
Crowd files for commission, but attorney left out
Possibly a record number of candidates for county commissioner filed by Monday’s deadline, but one county official didn’t meet legal requirements to file in time. County attorney Joel Ensey filed a petition seeking to return to his position, but the petition he presented did not have the required number of signatures. Ensey now will run a write-in campaign.
Car sales roll on as area dealership adapts to times
An economic lifeline thrown to Americans during the spring high-sell season may have played a small part in getting an area car dealership back on a roll. In a rare glimmer of good news for an industry that has seen sales plummet, Hillsboro Ford has enjoyed months of brisk business, Terry Hagen, owner and sales manager, said Monday.
No new cases, but nurse expects resurgence of COVID
Although no new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the county since mid-April, health nurse Diedre Serene expects to see more, possibly even a cluster of them, as more normal activities resume. Serene said more confirmed cases were likely simply due to more testing and more movement.

COUNTY

Sausage House deal a year in making
Jason Callhan and Jeremy Sheffler took over Monday as owners of Peabody Sausage House, but the idea had been brewing since a relative of previous owners Mike and Cheryl Berger mentioned it at last year’s Fourth of July. “I mulled it over,” Callahan said. “It was just kind of a joke, and we were all out having fun.”
Woman, teen escape car fire
A woman and a teen were all that escaped from a car that caught fire at 4:02 p.m. Friday on US-56 between Falcon and Goldenrod Rds. Driver Crystal S. Stryker, 31, Hillsboro, and Maria Zimmer, 13, Hillsboro, were the only ones in the 1995 Oldsmobile 88, which was owned by Mark S. Conner, Hillsboro. No injury was reported for Stryker or Zimmer.
Woman arrested with meth, $2,980
Methamphetamine and nearly $3,000 were found by Hillsboro police Tuesday afternoon after a search of a 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis on US-56 near Santa Fe St. A woman was found with about an ounce of methamphetamine, $2,980, and a generator, police said.
Camp sites fill at reservoir
Reserve campsites at Marion Reservoir are all booked up, but there are still first-come, first-serve spots available to anyone who wants to enjoy opening weekend of camping. “We are not 100% full by any means, but we are getting there,” lake manager Kevin McCoy said. “It could be about 75% full by this weekend, but a lot of that could change in a few hours. Right now, we still have some places.”
ATVs a problem at busy lake
ATV drivers caused issues on a crowded Memorial Day weekend at Marion County Lake, according to Lake superintendent Isaac Hett. Drivers had children and open bottles of alcohol in ATVs, Hett said, and ATVs not licensed for on-road use reportedly were driven on Upland Rd. and US-256 to Marion.
Most offices open as usual
The county courthouse and most county offices are now open as usual, although social distancing is expected. All entrances to the courthouse re-opened Monday.
Farmers markets to open
Peabody and Hillsboro farmers markets will open within the coming week, but nobody has stepped forward to coordinate a farmers market for Marion this year. Peabody’s market will open for the season from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday in downtown Peabody.

OTHER NEWS

Suicide attempts spike after 2-month dormancy
After receiving three calls for possible suicidal attempts from January to mid-March, and none from mid-March until mid-May, county dispatchers have received three calls for possible suicide attempts in just 10 days. One possible attempt was reported May 15 after a woman drank hazardous household chemicals. Two additional incidents followed in quick succession, on May 22 and May 25. In each case a woman overdosed.
Kids keep cops hopping
From a low-speed chase on a scooter to a break-in to play with toys and trespassing in a decaying drainage ditch, kids had police busy this week. At 7:38 p.m. Monday, Hillsboro police were called to the 200 block S. Lincoln St. by mother Alicia Higbee Schmidt for an out-of-control 9-year-old throwing rocks at houses and mailboxes.
Dorothy's coffee house reopens
A new crew and new breakfast menu items at Dorothy’s Coffee House and Tea Room were greeted by a steady stream of grateful customers as the Marion coffee house reopened Monday. “A lot of people wanted it open,” said Jena Terrell, Hillsboro, the shop’s new manager.
Airstream Guy building for sale
Mark Evans hoped his son would take over Airstream Guy some day. Instead, Derek is opening his own restoration shop in Manhattan, and Evans will not have much use for the 80-by-120 foot workshop at 1003 Batt St.
Marion picks interim zoning chief
Public works supervisor Marty Fredrickson will temporarily replace Marion’s zoning administrator Clayton Garnica, who took a different job in April. At a meeting Monday, city council members heard that summer dance classes and camps could be scheduled for July, but dance classes won’t resume in June and a dance recital scheduled for July has been canceled.
Yoga classes to be offered
Lesli Beery will teach Hillsboro Recreation Commission’s yoga classes at 9 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at Hillsboro City Hall. Cost of the class is $5 per session.
Governor OKs $400 million aid
Gov. Laura Kelly’s SPARK task force has approved the distribution of $400 million in relief for local governments strained by COVID-19. Monday will be given to counties based on their population, unemployment, and number of COVID-19 cases.

DEATHS

Jim Davis
Limited public services for Jim Davis, 72, Marion, who died Monday, will be at a later date at Holy Family Parish, Marion. Davis was Marion’s assistant fire chief for 42 years and a longtime owner of a heating and air conditioning business. He retired at the beginning of 2020.
IN MEMORIAM:
Betty Dyck

DOCKET

FARM

Family farm continues to 6th generation
The well-preserved deed to a 160-acre homestead just east of Lincolnville is dated May 1880, but Mary Kaiser and her two sons had come to America five years earlier and traveled to Salina to stake a claim to the quarter-section just east of the fledgling town of Lincolnville near Clear Creek. Mary paid a $1 filing fee and promised to improve the land within five years.
Despite initial fears, wheat progressing well
It’ll be another few weeks until Dick Tippin expects to see wheat harvests, but the Cooperative Grain and Supply grain coordinator is expecting a promising yield. “I think it could be fairly good,” he said. “It looks like a little above average.”
Programs to help ag businesses
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has rolled out two assistance programs for farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses. Farmers and ranchers can apply for the USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, which provides direct payments to offset impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commodities to be distributed
Families in need of food assistance can pick up commodities 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday at Florence Senior Center or 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Marion Senior Center. Commodities will be available 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Main Street Ministries in Hillsboro.

OPINION

Avoid too much, too soon - before it's too late
Like a cicada emerging from what feels like years in a confining shell, we’re about to escape our imposed isolation, fly away, and begin making the familiar buzzing (which we wrongly attribute to “locusts”) that is the comforting musical underpinning of summer in Marion County. But like a cicada molting from its covering, we must be careful not to become too eager to start our singing lest we, in our initially flightless, sopping-wet state, become a meal for a swooping airborne predator — in our case, COVID-19.
Throw away most ideas about recycling
Like old trash that just won’t get picked up, recycling keeps coming back on us as a costly venture not nearly as environmentally friendly as believed by those indoctrinated to support it with near-religious fervor. No one is making money on it — except, perhaps, the companies that prey on guilty consciences by claiming to take our garbage and turn it into something useful.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
Subjecting ourselves to the King's English
CORRECTIONS:
Wrong driver
LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
Enough is enough, On editing

PEOPLE

Cards sought for 100th birthday
Mildred Bowers will be celebrating her 100th birthday Sunday. To help celebrate, her family is requesting a card shower. The address is 73 Bluestem Lane, Marion, KS 66861.
New spin coming to herbal classes
Karyn Woodward has been conducting herb workshops in Florence since 2012, but now she wants to start demonstrating what she says are the plants’ antiviral properties. “Some of them are more for stomach issues or headaches,” she said. “Each herb has its own thing, and that’s what I teach.”
Blood drives scheduled
Blood drives are scheduled for 1 to 6 p.m. June 8 at Goessel Mennonite Church, Goessel and noon to 6 p.m. June 16 at Hillsboro United Methodist Church. Donors are being asked to schedule appointments by calling (800)733-2767 and to wear masks while donating.
SERMON FOR THE WEEK:
Waiting anxiously the arrival of a 'but'
SENIOR CENTER:
Hillsboro, Marion, Peabody menu
MEMORIES:
10, 25, 40, 55, 70, 100, 140 years ago
MEMORIES IN FOCUS:
Retired educator pens book on old schools

SPORTS AND SCHOOL

New season, new team for boys baseball
Challenges breed adaptation and evolution. For several youth baseball players, that may include joining a new team as social distancing regulations are lifted.
Five county students get state FFA degrees
Five students from Marion County schools were among50students who received state FFA degrees last week. In doing so, Peyton Ensey and Cassandra Meyer from Marion High School, Jack Parks and Clarissa Stokes of Peabody-Burns, and Centre’s Jensen Riffel received Kansas FFA’s highest honor.
Athlete honored for academics
Kristen Herzet of Marion last week became the first athlete in Bethel College history to benamed an Academic All-District athlete by College Sports Information Directors of America. A two-year member of Bethel’s track and field team, Herzet is the school’s record holder in indoor shot put, hammer throw, and weight throw.
Awards and honors
College degrees and honors

PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

Marion and Hillsboro were shut out but Marion County won a $167,000 grant Tuesday to help small businesses struggling after COVID-19 shutdowns. On Monday Marion had hired Ranson Citycode Financial, Wichita, to be administrator for the COVID-19 grant it hoped to get.

Although no new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the county since mid-April, health nurse Diedre Serene expects to see more, possibly even a cluster of them, as more normal activities resume. Serene said more confirmed cases were likely simply due to more testing and more movement.

Methamphetamine and nearly $3,000 were found by Hillsboro police Tuesday afternoon after a search of a 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis on US-56 near Santa Fe St. A woman was found with about an ounce of methamphetamine, $2,980, and a generator, police said.

ATV drivers caused issues on a crowded Memorial Day weekend at Marion County Lake, according to Lake superintendent Isaac Hett. Drivers had children and open bottles of alcohol in ATVs, Hett said, and ATVs not licensed for on-road use reportedly were driven on Upland Rd. and US-256 to Marion.

The county courthouse and most county offices are now open as usual, although social distancing is expected. All entrances to the courthouse re-opened Monday.

Peabody and Hillsboro farmers markets will open within the coming week, but nobody has stepped forward to coordinate a farmers market for Marion this year. Peabody’s market will open for the season from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday in downtown Peabody.

A new crew and new breakfast menu items at Dorothy’s Coffee House and Tea Room were greeted by a steady stream of grateful customers as the Marion coffee house reopened Monday. “A lot of people wanted it open,” said Jena Terrell, Hillsboro, the shop’s new manager.

Mark Evans hoped his son would take over Airstream Guy some day. Instead, Derek is opening his own restoration shop in Manhattan, and Evans will not have much use for the 80-by-120 foot workshop at 1003 Batt St.

Lesli Beery will teach Hillsboro Recreation Commission’s yoga classes at 9 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at Hillsboro City Hall. Cost of the class is $5 per session.

Gov. Laura Kelly’s SPARK task force has approved the distribution of $400 million in relief for local governments strained by COVID-19. Monday will be given to counties based on their population, unemployment, and number of COVID-19 cases.

Limited public services for Jim Davis, 72, Marion, who died Monday, will be at a later date at Holy Family Parish, Marion. Davis was Marion’s assistant fire chief for 42 years and a longtime owner of a heating and air conditioning business. He retired at the beginning of 2020.

IN MEMORIAM:

It’ll be another few weeks until Dick Tippin expects to see wheat harvests, but the Cooperative Grain and Supply grain coordinator is expecting a promising yield. “I think it could be fairly good,” he said. “It looks like a little above average.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has rolled out two assistance programs for farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses. Farmers and ranchers can apply for the USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, which provides direct payments to offset impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Families in need of food assistance can pick up commodities 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday at Florence Senior Center or 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Marion Senior Center. Commodities will be available 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Main Street Ministries in Hillsboro.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

CORRECTIONS:

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Mildred Bowers will be celebrating her 100th birthday Sunday. To help celebrate, her family is requesting a card shower. The address is 73 Bluestem Lane, Marion, KS 66861.

Blood drives are scheduled for 1 to 6 p.m. June 8 at Goessel Mennonite Church, Goessel and noon to 6 p.m. June 16 at Hillsboro United Methodist Church. Donors are being asked to schedule appointments by calling (800)733-2767 and to wear masks while donating.

SERMON FOR THE WEEK:

SENIOR CENTER:

MEMORIES:

MEMORIES IN FOCUS:

Challenges breed adaptation and evolution. For several youth baseball players, that may include joining a new team as social distancing regulations are lifted.

Five students from Marion County schools were among50students who received state FFA degrees last week. In doing so, Peyton Ensey and Cassandra Meyer from Marion High School, Jack Parks and Clarissa Stokes of Peabody-Burns, and Centre’s Jensen Riffel received Kansas FFA’s highest honor.