PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

Foundation's assets top $775K

Peabody Community Foundation began in 2000, when Joan Berns donated a little more than $2,000 to the Peabody Endowment Fund — and now it’s worth more than $775,000. From that donation, the PCF slowly grew to about $85,000 as groups and individuals made donations to several funds to support the endowment fund, scholarships, and local organizations.

Former Peabody couple's home hit by tornado

Marc and Lynn (Jones) Hughes of Carney, Okla. were away from their home Sunday evening when a tornado roared through the Oklahoma town of 650 and destroyed or damaged 30 houses. The Hughes home was heavily damaged, according to Lynn’s mother, Marilyn Jones. “On Sunday night when she called home, Lynn thought the house appeared to have been leveled, but it was raining so hard she really couldn’t tell,” Jones said.

23 graduate from Peabody-Burns High School

Despite threatening weather, the 2013 Peabody-Burns Senior class graduated Sunday afternoon in the Brown Gymnasium. At 4 p.m., the PBHS band played “Marche Pontificale”. Commencement Exercises opened with USD 398 staff processional followed by the 23 members of the 2013 graduating class entering to “Fanfare and Processional”. High School principal Tim Robertson welcomed the class, staff and visitors. The Warrior Band under the direction of Band Director Steve Wilson entertained with the selection “Homeward Bound”.

Florence post office hours cut 41 percent

The Florence post office’s hours have been cut by 15 hours per week. The change went into effect Saturday. Previously the hours were 8 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 to 9:15 a.m. Saturday. Now the hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 to 10:15 a.m. Saturday — a reduction of 41 percent.

Pilot car rams into parked truck

As far as Kansas Highway Patrol master trooper C. Eric Rust could tell, there was no obvious reason a pilot car collided with a parked semi-tractor truck Monday afternoon, at approximately 2 p.m., in the Kansas Department of Transportation construction area on U.S. 77 near 140th Road. He said there was no evidence that the pilot car had attempted to stop. Kent Dewitt McEntire, 56, of Wichita, the driver of the 2004 Freightline truck owned by Groendyke Transfers Inc. followed the instructions of the flagger, was parked, and was waiting to move. He was hauling a 2010 Polar Trailer.

Levi Brown

Levi Brown, 88, died May 11 at Peabody Care Center. He was born Sept. 1, 1924, to Michael and Lena (Muth) Brown in New Rockford, N.D. He married Georgia Dick on Oct. 3, 1942, in Marion County.

Jerry Dalke

Jerry Dalke, 67, died Monday at Via Christi-St. Francis in Wichita. He was born Oct. 28, 1945, to William and Opal (Longhofer) Dalke in Hillsboro.

Jeffrey L. Tomlinson

Jeffrey L. Tomlinson, 63, passed away May 17, 2013, at St. Luke Hospital in Marion as a result of cancer. He was born Nov. 9, 1949, in Charleston, W. Va. He was the son of Robert and Virginia (Berry) Tomlinson. Jeff was an Army veteran who proudly served his country in the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1968.

Kenneth Wiebe

Kenneth Wiebe, 77, of Hillsboro and formerly of Durham died Friday at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice in Wichita. He was born Nov. 22, 1935, to Isaac and Gladys (Redger) Wiebe in Hillsboro. He is survived by his wife, Sandy Wiebe of Hillsboro; two sons, Doyle of Durham and Arden of Gruver, Texas; a daughter, Teresa Wiebe of Durham; three brothers, Ransom of Durham, Clayton of Durham, and Richard of Tampa; two sisters, Lucille Mininger of Almena, Wis., and Christine Friesen of Muleshoe, Texas; and nine grandchildren.

Arlene Minard Williams

Arlene Minard Williams, 95, passed away May 19 2013 at Peabody Care Center in Peabody, Kan. She was born May 15, 1918 in Narka, Kan., to Raymond and Lena Dovel Smith.

Accidents reported

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County jail

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Hillsboro police

Marriage licenses

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Peabody police

Commission's goal: 4.4 percent tax cut

While setting dates to work on the budget, Marion County Commission set a goal of reducing property taxes by about three mills, or 4.4 percent. Commission Chairman Randy Dallke was the first to propose that goal. He said the county may have to cut some services to reach that figure, though.

Sweet potatoes rise in popularity

One of the frequently asked questions at Serendipity Gardens near Hillsboro last week was “when are the sweet potatoes coming in” and owner Jana Dalke’ s answer was “sometime next week.” Warm weather and sunny skies stirred the gardening bug in many area residents’ lives recently, and judging from garden shop traffic, most were on the hunt for traditional standards like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers to plant in their gardens.

Gardener spends time on his knees

David Fruth spends his noon hours watering and pulling weeds out of his flower garden for one reason: to watch them grow. “There’s just something about getting dirt under my fingernails that puts a smile on my face,” the 74-year-old Marion resident said. “I like to come out when the plants are smiling at the sun. They’re happy. I’m happy. Everyone wins.”

How to celebrate Memorial Day

I tried in the past week’s newspaper to encourage all you healthy younger guys and gals to volunteer at the cemetery this week as the American Legion and Sons of the Legion members wrestle the flags and poles of the Avenue of Flags display at Prairie Lawn Cemetery. And bless my soul, guess what? The power of the press is still with us. Yes! Avenue of Flags guru Larry Watts told me Saturday morning that he had heard from several of you who were willing to either put up or take down the flags that create such a moving memorial tribute to our veterans every year. It would be terrific if the Legion guys had even more help, but at this point no one is complaining.

Wishing the commission good luck

County Commissioners Randy Dallke and Dan Holub set an ambitious goal for the upcoming budget process — cutting county property taxes by about three mills, or 4.4 percent — while Roger Fleming remained fairly quiet on the matter. That would be an impressive reversal of a trend that has seen county property taxes increase 13.1 percent since 2007. Taxes have increased every year in that time. I wish them luck. It takes a lot of willpower to cut taxes, because that means cutting budgets. Yes, cutting taxes is popular with the general public, but commissioners hear more from department heads than from the general public, and department heads are more motivated to keep their budgets steady than Joe Q. Taxpayer is to see his taxes go down. Even a three-mill decrease in property taxes is only a $17.25 difference for a $50,000 home.

BALANCING ACT:

HOPE IN THE HEARTLAND:

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:

St. Luke board elections on May 28

St. Luke Hospital’s board of directors election will be 7 p.m. Tuesday in hospital clinic basement. All residents of the hospital district, which includes Marion and part of Peabody, are eligible to vote in the election.

Con men pose as contractors

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is urging residents in areas damaged by weekend storms to sue caution during the cleanup and rebuilding to avoid scams by transient contractors. Home repair scams are common in natural disaster situations. Scammers will pose as contractors, approaching overwhelmed homeowners and offering to do repairs. They will often ask for cash in advance to purchase supplies, and then never return to do the work.

Plenty to see, do at Chingawassa Days

Concerts and meals are some of the biggest attractions to Chingawassa Days, but there are plenty of other things to see and do at the festival, which is June 7 through 9 this year. Competitions

Tree field day is June 6 in Florence

The Kansas Forest Service, in conjunction with the Cottonwood River Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy will host a field day from 3:30 to 7 p.m. June 6 in Florence to address several aspects of tree planting and woodland management. This re-scheduled field day is to help landowners and professionals manage tree plantings, woodlands, and riparian area successfully.

Visitor get helping hand in storm

Although it would have been easier to pass the buck when McPherson County dropped a hitchhiker off in Hillsboro, Marion County Sheriff’s Department took a more humanitarian approach, with assistance from the Marion Ministerial Alliance. McPherson County Sheriff’s Department notified Marion County it would be dropping off the hitchhiker, who was on his way to Missouri, about 10:23 p.m., when storms were going through the county.

Class of 1963 to celebrate

The Peabody High School class of 1963 will celebrate its 50th year class reunion over Memorial Day weekend. They are planning a social time 4 to 6 p.m. May 26 at Peabody Senior Center. Anyone from the community can stop by and visit.

Peabody native receives nursing degree

Hannah Miller of Peabody received a nursing degree from Newman University on May 10. She was one of 24 degree recipients.

Senator accepting internship applications

Sen. Jerry Moran is accepting applications for congressional internships in his Washington, D.C., and Kansas offices for the fall. As a University of Kansas student, Moran had a summer internship with Rep. Keith Sebelius in 1974 while the Watergate scandal was at its height.

Celiac patient gets reprieve

A smile crossed Elizabeth Perry’s face when she passed the gluten-free section and made a beeline for the wheat bread. “I haven’t had anything but gluten-free crap for the past nine years,” she said. “It’s going to be good to sink my teeth into this loaf.”

Enns uses a variety of techniques

With a gray-scale picture to guide her and the memory of a special photo shown to her by cell phone, Louetta ‘Letty’ Enns of Durham carefully applied her chosen paint color to make a kitten come alive on a canvas. “This one is almost done,” she said. “I need to add some white on the legs and chest, and then fluff up the fur a bit.”

CORRESPONDENTS:

K-State student from Peabody get internship

Hannah Anderson of Peabody has been named a 2013 summer intern for Kansas State Research and Extension. She will work in the Reno County office in South Hutchinson. Anderson, a Kansas State University junior majoring in agricultural education, will assist extension agents and staff with implementing educational programs for Reno County residents.

Boys set records at regional track meet

Peabody-Burns senior Seth Topham set two school records en route to regional victories Friday in Herington. Lucas Larsen, Corbin Rives and Braxton Kyle also qualified for the state meet along with Topham, who will compete in two events this weekend. “Seth Topham and Braxton Kyle qualified in high jump by placing second and fourth,” Coach Brian Lightner said. “Topham’s jump of 6-4 tied him for the school record.”

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