BREAKING NEWS
UPDATED AFTER PRINT DEADLINE
Marion County ambulance director Curt Hasart, under threat of having his license taken away, has resigned effective Sept. 20.
Hasart has been embattled for months after Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services began investigating whether he lied about pending criminal cases in South Dakota when he applied for a Kansas paramedic license in 2011,
Marion resident Darvin Markley quizzed city council members about next year’s budget before they voted 3-2 to approve it.
Mayor David Mayfield, Zach Collett, and Kevin Burkholder voted for the 2024 budget, which exceeds the revenue-neutral rate by 9 mills. Vice Mayor Ruth Herbel and councilman Jerry Kline voted against it, citing concerns about spending.
A question of who was taking care of an infant led to an Aug. 20 domestic dispute in a Marion apartment to become a melee at Casey’s in Marion that resulted in a woman being knocked unconscious and taken to St. Luke Hospital.
The following day, a child custody dispute in an empty lot in Burns resulted in one person going to St. Luke.
Announcer’s razzing is a hit
in Florence
By DEB GRUVER
Staff writer
Wrangling,
roping rule day in Burdick
By PHYLLIS ZORN
Staff writer
After nearly a century without a rodeo in Burdick, two brothers decided to stage one Monday at the town’s baseball diamond.
Rey Arribas Molezun is matter-of-fact when asked whether he misses his parents back home in Spain.
“Not too much,” the 15-year-old exchange student at Hillsboro Middle/High School says, breaking into a sparkling, white-toothed smile.
Marion City Council members spent 50 minutes April 20 interviewing Gideon Cody, then a captain in the Kansas City Police Department.
The next morning, Mayor David Mayfield offered him a job as police chief.
Mayor David Mayfield is a “chicken sh*t,” a Marion resident said during public comment at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Ryan Newell challenged Mayfield’s assertion that he didn’t know Chief Gideon Cody planned to raid the
Kari Newell, owner of Chef’s Plate at Parlour 1886, is allowing customers to bring in their own alcohol until she secures a liquor license.
Newell had an agreement with Historic Elgin Hotel LLC that the hotel would maintain a liquor license for its first floor, where Chef’s Plate is situated.
After nearly a week of legal wrangling, evidence not initially listed among items seized in raids Aug. 11 on the Marion County Record office and the home of its owners finally was returned last week to Record attorney Bernie Rhodes.
Under terms of a court order agreed to by all parties and approved by Chief Judge Ben Sexton, the Record received a copy of 17 gigabytes of data downloaded from its computer network. A device that was used to copy the data was destroyed as were all copies of the data made by authorities.
Worried that “everybody’s looking at Marion like we’re a bunch of hicks now,” Mayor David Mayfield is attempting to deflect blame for an illegal raid Aug. 11 on the
In an interview published Saturday in the Wichita Eagle, Mayfield admits, as he previously told the
Police Chief Gideon Cody came to the
As Gruver read the search warrant, she told Cody she needed to call her publisher and editor, Eric Meyer. The police chief, who was ostensibly investigating another reporter’s computer use, snatched the phone out of Gruver’s hand.
Two journalism organizations are selling T-shirts, coffee mugs, stickers, and other swag after a raid of the
Kansas Press Association is selling raid-related products featuring the
The Media and Democracy Project, a non-partisan organization based in New York City, has named
“The
Larry Pankratz didn’t start juggling until after his days at Hillsboro High School.
A 1973 graduate, he’ll probably bust out his juggling equipment this weekend when he and his former classmates are in town for Hillsboro’s 23rd annual All-School Reunion.
Hillsboro will save $25,146 on sewer lining work by having the work done in November instead of after the first of the year as originally planned.
City council members agreed to move the work forward after the contractor, Johnson Service Co., said it could save money on materials by buying needed supplies at the same time it buys supplies for a project in Mankato.
The purchase of a cardiac monitor for a newly arrived ambulance drew disagreement among county commissioners over whether the ambulance, or the monitor, was even needed.
Ambulance director Curt Hasart brought quotes for three cardiac monitors to Tuesday’s commission meeting.
Marion County will receive up to $325,000 to replace a bridge on 310th Rd. two miles south and less than a mile east of Tampa with help from a federal grant.
The project requires a 10% local match.
Temperatures in the upper 90s did not deter people from coming out Monday to commemorate Burdick’s 50th Labor Day celebration.
Both a 2 p.m. parade and a 4 p.m. ranch rodeo were well attended.
Services for Susan Josie Duerksen, 93, who died Monday at Bethesda Home in Goessel, will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Tabor Mennonite Church, rural Newton.
Pastor Todd Schlosser will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Relatives will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the church.
Six-man football returns to Centre this season with expectations of beating 2022’s 3-6 record.
Returning starters for the team are Gentri Holub, Santiago Knepp, Kaigen Brewer, Kolby Steiner, and Koltin Steiner.
Goessel’s football team is looking for a bounce-back season after being bitten by an injury bug last year. Injuries impacted the team’s ability to practice well, play games, and be cohesive from one Friday to the next.
“We are looking forward to a fresh start, and we’re returning quite a few kids with starter experience on both sides of the ball,” coach Garrett Hiebert said.
Looking for a bounce-back season, Coach Demetrius Cox has been diligently preparing his team, both physically and mentally, for the challenges and triumphs that lie ahead.
“The sweat, the drills, and the late-night practices have all been building up to this moment – a chance to showcase the results of our hard work and dedication,” Cox said.
Gavin Wasmuth placed 13th last season at the Class 2A state cross country meet and has set his goal to improve on that finish this season.
Luke Wessel, who placed 23rd at the state meet, and Eli Klenda, who finished 31st, also return this season for Marion, which finished third as a team.
Eric Dutton has been Peabody-Burns assistant coach for the last five years. This year, he is stepping up to the head coach position.
Returning to the team along with coach Dutton are starters Chris Spencer, Cade Gossen, and Joseph Aydelott.
Troubled as we are by David Mayfield’s continual references to “his” police and “his” city council, we’re forced to agree with one thing he and a host of others — including this newspaper — have been saying.
As a community, Marion must dig itself out from under a steaming pile of manure dumped on it by officials — inept, corrupt, or both — who proposed, authorized, conducted, collaborated with, or applauded raids motivated less as a search for justice and more as a weapon to bully or embarrass.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
That little bit extra
After being introduced to a conflict between the hospital and Lanning Pharmacy, St. Luke Hospital’s new chief executive, Alex Haines, stepped to the helm Aug. 30.
He replaces Jeremy Ensey.
An Internet security entrepreneur is looking to expand his business to Hillsboro.
Steve Watkins, chief executive of iGuardPro, came to Hillsboro four years ago. He has more than 20 years in programming and Internet security and opened his own business in 2022.
Signup for fall story time at Hillsboro Public Library has begun.
Forty-minute sessions of stories and activities for children 3 and older will begin Sept. 27 and continue through December.
Centre’s fall homecoming royalty will be crowned after a football game against Southern Coffey at 7 p.m. Friday at Bud Peterson Field.
Queen candidates are Jenna Bittle, Leah Brunner, Payton Svitak, and Alexandria Stuchlik. King candidates are Gentri Holub, Riley Janow, Nick Krch and Karsen Kroupa.
Marion County Democrats, who last month voted to designate a 2024 scholarship in banker and attorney Chris Costello’s name, will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday in the basement of Marion Community Center, 203 N. 3rd St. Emporia State University political science professor Michael A. Smith will speak. More information about the meeting, open to the general public, is available from Eileen Sieger at (620) 382-7091 or sesieger@gmail.com.
You might have heard of many a legend
Some in real life and some just pretend
They come wrapped in glory
Because of their story
How many can you name,
These legends of fame?
Zorro, the Lone Ranger,
Surely to you are no stranger
Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid
Billy the Kid and what they did.
Well-known heroes, I’m sure you will find
But the Legend of Legends is on my mind.
In house robe and slippers, her walker in hand
She knew it was time to make her stand.
Glaring and staring at the illegal intrusion
She knew in her mind there was no confusion.
“Don’t you touch any of that stuff.”
The tone of her voice said this was no bluff.
“This is my house,” with a slam of defiance.
Letting them know she would not stand in silence.
“You a**hole,” she yelled, while beginning to advance,
Improving her position; she knew it was her chance.
With each step forward they knew they were in trouble
For she was about to burst their bullet-proof bubble.
“Your mother love you? Do you love your mother?”
Questions placed in their mind, forever will hover.
“You’re an a**shole,” again came from her mouth.
“Police Chief. You’re the Chief. Oh, God. Get out of my house.”
Her battle not yet over, she stands toe to toe.
With a flick of her finger dismissing them so.
“You’re trespassing. Stand outside. Stand outside that door. You can still see in this room.”
Like a seasoned mother she banishes them to their bedroom.
“How many computers do you have in the house, ma’am?”
“I’m not going to tell you.” She knew this was a scam.
“Get out of my way, I want to see what they’re doing.”
Though they tried to impede her, she left them stewing.
“You can go on through,” as if giving her permission.
They stepped aside; they knew she was on a mission.
“What are you doing? Those are personal papers.”
Still they took photos of their illegal capers.
The chief and his minions finally retreated
Believing their task had been completed.
Little did they know they would be the catalyst
For what would come after their ill-informed tryst.
The illegal search has come to an end
Just beginning are the stories that are sure to be penned.
From this little house in Marion she shared with her son
Her voice has gone out like the sound of a clarion.
At 98 years old. she planted her ebenezer.
Or was it her walker she kept beneath her?
She stood straight and tall and spoke with authority
Using the power that came with seniority.
In house robe and slippers, her walker in hand,
Across her town and all of the land
She’ll stand as a beacon for freedom of the press
And be remembered by all for nothing less.
If there are any who think they’re too young or too old
To stand up for freedom, to be so bold,
Here is a story that I inspire
This is the Legend of Joan Meyer.
MEMORIES:
15,
30,
45,
60,
75,
105,
145 years ago
An adage that a speeder may be able to outrun a police officer but can’t outrun his radio proved a bit less accurate last week.
A black sedan, possibly a Nissan Ultima, blew by both game warden Evan Deneke and sheriff’s deputy Joshua Meliza at 109 mph — 64 mph over the speed limit — at 7:12 p.m. Sept. 1.
“It’s not going to be cheap,” a Cooperative Grain and Supply worker said after smoldering corn sent Hillsboro firefighters Monday afternoon to the co-op’s Hillsboro hoop building.
Workers were moving corn when they started to notice smoke in a pit. Corn in a “leg” used to lift grain up and into a bin was burning, Fire Chief Ben Steketee said.
Drivers in Marion were greeted Tuesday with a crane lifting supplies to the roof of a historic downtown building.
Workers with Wray Roofing are replacing the roof of the Donaldson Hosmer building, 318 E. Main St. Work is expected to be completed by Friday, owner Randy Collett said.
Peabody-Burns elementary school was locked down about an hour Aug. 31 after Peabody resident Korie Hatton reported seeing a mountain lion near the school.
“Please put your outside pets in and watch kids being outside,” Hatton posted on social media. “We just saw a mountain lion in our alley at our house at 310 E. 3rd St. I called the police department and the school, since they are across the street to let them know. The school was going to lock down any kids from going outside.”
After spending tens of thousands of dollars on 27 cell phones that are now rarely if ever used, the city of Marion is ending its roughly $15,200/year rental agreement for them.
So far this year alone, Marion has paid $11,380 in monthly service fees for the phones, records show. The city’s two-year contract expires at the end of the month.
Brett McGee remembers watching Alex Young count the number of trombone players — six — at last year’s national Future Farmers of America convention in Indianapolis.
“What do I have to do to be one of the six?” Young wondered.
Hillsboro hopes to make water plant improvements to provide more effective and less expensive treatment to remove high manganese levels caused by blue-green algae in Marion Reservoir water.
City council members voted Tuesday to apply for a $1.1 million Kansas Public Water Supply Loan to pay for the improvements. The loan, if the city is selected, is 100% forgivable.
Voters in the Marion-Florence school district will be asked in November to approve formation of a recreation commission.
A “yes” vote would permit the district to establish the commission and allow it to levy an annual property tax to support programs. The amount to be levied is not included in the ballot question.
An auction closing out a 40-year-old Marion business, originally scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed to Oct. 1.
HRK Variety Store, first opened by Jim and Bernice Beach to fill a void left by the closing of Marion’s Duckwall store, was sold in 2016 to Augusta residents Joan and John Diver. Joan Diver suffered an injury, and the couple decided to close the store.
Two deputies and a Hillsboro police officer rushed Monday to Goessel when a caller told dispatchers a burglary was in progress in a former café.
“The reporting party advises that he walked in on the subject and now he is not allowing him to leave the building,” a dispatcher radioed the officers. “He is covered up in Army gear, but again he’s not sure if he has a weapon or not. He is not letting him leave the building.”
Although the county lake had about double the campers it ordinarily sees on a Labor Day weekend, the reservoir had fewer than usual.
Mike and Stacey Swader, formerly of Herington until they began their “after retirement RV life” Aug. 26, camped at Cottonwood Point with their Aussie shepherd, Alita Grace, and their retriever mix, Delance.
Marion city administrator Mark Skiles will serve as freedom of information officer, city council members agreed Tuesday.
With some members participating remotely The council voted 4-1 — Ruth Herbel opposed — to pass a resolution naming Skiles the freedom of information officer.
Budget hearings typically don’t have repeat performances, but Marion’s will later this month.
The city council will conduct a second hearing about the city’s budget at 4:30 p.m. Sept 19.
Former undersheriff David Huntley, who spent 14 of his 40 years in law enforcement with the sheriff’s office, died Aug. 30. Services were Saturday.
Huntley, who was 66, is remembered fondly by colleagues.
A man sentenced 10 years ago to life without parole after a Marion County judge ruled him a habitual sex offender filed a motion Aug. 29 for a new trial or to have his sentence changed.
However, district judge Courtney Boehm dismissed the petition Aug. 31 on grounds that his time to appeal had run out, that he made no claim of actual innocence, and that dismissing his petition did not equate to “manifest injustice.”
A lake resident who admits her property would not be affected urged county commissioners Tuesday to reject short-term rentals at the county lake.
Marty Sampson spoke about a planning commission recommendation that a conditional use permit be granted to Matt Meyerhoff to use a house at 58 Lakeshore Dr. as a short-term rental property.
A legal battle might be on the horizon for the county emergency medical department.
Interim director Chuck Kenney hoped to have an executive session to discuss potential litigation during county commissioners’ Aug. 30 meeting.
Services for former Tabor College registrar and Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce office assistant Deanne Duerksen, 77, who died Sunday at her residence in Hesston, will be 10 a.m. Saturday at First Mennonite Church, Hillsboro. Pastor Tom Harder will officiate.
Born Dec. 21, 1944, in Concordia to Peter and Mary (Henderson) Goering, she is survived by son Craig Duerksen of Wichita; daughters Shannon Davis of Haven and Sherri Duerksen of Phoenix; sister Peggy Goering-Kuck of Pacific Grove, California; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Services for former undersheriff David V. Huntley, 66, who died Aug. 30 at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, were Saturday at Valley United Methodist Church in Marion.
He will be buried later in Hillcrest Cemetery, Florence.
IN MEMORIAM:
Frances McRae
Florence’s Harvey Boys squared off against a combined team of the Howie House Griffins and the William Allen White Stockings from Emporia.
The Florence game was an exhibition for the Emporia team, a member of the Vintage Base Ball Association.
It’s way too early to tell for sure, but it seems Marion’s new city administrator is making laudable efforts to clean up things that somehow became less than tidy after two decades of predecessors not trained in his highly specialized job.
No reasons have been announced publicly, but the city appears to be playing things on the safe side by conducting a second hearing on whether it should raise its tax levy by 5.814% even if tax rates would stay about the same.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
My buddy Slacey
Lecrecia Coss of Marion and two other owners of Polaris Slingshot “auto-cycles” drove their vehicles in the Burdick Labor Day parade Monday.
The Polaris Slingshot is a three-wheeled motorcycle that sometimes is called an open-air roadster. Drivers and passengers get a front-row seat to every twist and turn. With a low center of gravity and open cockpit, one rear wheel launches it forward. The first edition of the model was introduced in 2014 as a 2015 model.
Burdick Oil, Feed, and Fertilizer was a mainstay on Burdick’s Main St. for many years. So, also, is the Peterson name.
Owner and operator Jim Peterson joined his father, Earl, in the business in 1972. Earl had operated it since 1949.
Several of the 50 entries in Burdick’s Labor Day parade reflected the need for farmers.
Burdick United Methodist Church received the theme prize for its float titled, “So God Made a Farmer.” Ronnie Carlson and his dog rode along with hay bales and sunflowers.
Democrat Patrick Schmidt, incumbent Jake LaTurner’s challenger in the congressional district that now includes Marion County, will speak at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the basement meeting room of Marion Community Center, 203 N. 3rd St.
Light refreshments will be served. A meeting of Marion County Democrats will precede his presentation at 10 a.m. Additional information is available from Eileen Sieger at (620) 382-7091 and sesieger@gmail.com.
Burns car show committee will have its annual hog roast 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 24 at Burns Community Center.
Pulled pork will be provided, and attendees are being asked to bring a side dish or dessert. Donations will be accepted.
MEMORIES:
15,
30,
45,
60,
80,
105,
135 years ago
A Marion symbol seen by sports fans and city residents as they drive on Eisenhower St. has a fresh, newly restored look. Four volunteers spent Aug. 29 cleaning up Marion’s large concrete letter “M” near the stadium.
“A small group of volunteers go out every season to clean it up,” resident Chris Mercer said. “Some years it is repainted. Every year it is weeded and trimmed and made more visible to the Marion citizens as they cruise by the Marion stadium or head out of town, seeing it off in the eastern distance.”
Jason Phelps, a 2004 alumnus originally from Elk City, Oklahoma, and Emily (Post) Chippeaux, a 2013 alumna originally from Wray, Colorado, will be inducted Oct. 2 into Tabor College’s athletics hall of fame.
Phelps, Tabor’s all-time leader in interceptions with 16, was a three-time NAIA all-American.
CENTRE:
Centre settles in to 6-player football,
Just 1 athlete, but coach learns from best,
No seniors for Centre volleyballGOESSEL:
Playoff hopes energize Goessel football,
Cross-country team small but determined,
Goessel volleyball prepares for tough scheduleHILLSBORO:
Trojans fighting for spot at top in volleyball,
Trojan cross-country team is conditioned for success,
Players step in as starters for Trojan footballMARION:
19 starters return to build football,
Warrior volleyball seeks sense of family,
2 schools combine for girls golf,
Marion runners hope to break the wallPEABODY-BURNS:
Peabody football moves to 6-player,
Volleyball coach implements new system