45 years ago

dec. 27, 1978

Ken Hoffman, a sergeant on the city police force, will replace Lyle Sanders as chief of police Jan. 1.

Firefighters from Burns, Cedar Point, Florence, Marion, and Strait Ranch battled a prairie blaze Friday afternoon approximately three miles south of Florence. Randy Mills, Strait Ranch operator, estimated 800 to 1,000 acres of grassland were burned. It took about three hours to extinguish the blaze.

Buffaloes have begun to roam the Flint Hills near Marion. Rusty Longhofer and Tom Hett purchased seven buffaloes — two young bulls, two cows and three calves — at an auction held Dec. 13 at Maxwell Game Preserve. Tentative plans call for adequate pens to house them to be built east of Marion on the north side of US-56.

Sylvester Winkley of rural Marion won first prize in this year’s Marion County Record subscription contest. He will receive a Victor electronic printing calculator. Second prize went to Herman Bolte III of Tampa. He will receive a Stebco molded attaché case.

Three of the children featured on a full-page of pictures of Santa Claus’ visit to Marion Saturday were Mickey Druse, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bud Druse; Kevin Marler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Doug Marler; and Robin Summervill, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mick Summervill.