PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

Never-ending parking dispute resolved again

The Peabody City Council meeting opened Monday evening with Mayor Larry Larsen announcing that he did not sign City Ordinance No. 01-2014, which passed Jan. 27, making the north side of Fourth St. from Poplar St. to Plum St. a no-parking zone. By not signing the ordinance after the council approved it, Larsen vetoed the ordinance. His intent was to force the council to revisit the issue, discuss it, and consider rescinding the ordinance.

Board takes first steps to fight budget shortfalls

Superintendent Ron Traxson prepared Peabody-Burns Board of Education members Monday to make some very tough decisions in the months ahead. “I hope I’m wrong,” he said. “But I’ve put together a report that shows our possible budget situation for the next three years, and it looks like we’re going to lose around $550,000 over the next three years.”

Peabody Community Foundation awards 2014 grants

Despite single-digit temperatures and snow-packed streets, about 150 people turned out at the Peabody Senior Center Saturday morning for a pancake and sausage breakfast and to see Peabody Community Foundation present 2014 grants. “We appreciate everyone who came out to help us share the event with the recipients,” foundation vice president Brad Nightengale said. “We had more applicants this year than ever before. There are some really great projects in the works for Peabody. We wish we could have given the entire amount to every group that applied. We hope to see the program grow in the future so we can give more.”

Propane bill relief available

Eligible households in Kansas can receive assistance through March for a one-time benefit of $511 to help pay for propane home heating costs. The Emergency Propane Relief Program, available through the Kansas Department of Children and Families, is being offered in response to the recent national propane shortage that has resulted in a substantial price increase for propane customers.

Changes made to Girl Scout cookie sales

Streets may be snow packed, but that did not stop Girl Scouts across the county from beginning their cookie sales over the weekend. County scouts sold 20,000 boxes of cookies last year and hope to match, if not surpass, that amount this year.

New subdivision at lake ready for development

Planning and Zoning Director Tonya Richards and developer Gary Dunnegan met Monday with commissioners, discussing the status of a future subdivision planned at the county lake. Richards said a plat for the area, to be called Saddle Creek Estates, had already been approved by the planning commission board.

Willard Hett

Willard Wayne Hett of Marion died Feb. 3 at St. Luke Living Center. He was born May 1, 1939, in Hillsboro to Ron and Ruby (Just) Hett. He grew up on the family farm in rural Marion and attended Aulne United Methodist Church with his family. He graduated from Marion High School in 1957.

Lucille Olsen

Lucille A. Olsen, 71, of Lincolnville died Saturday at HCA Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. She was born April 19, 1942, in Marion to Joseph and Anna (Holub) Rudolph. She married Bill E. Olson on Oct. 6, 1962.

Linda Priddy

Linda Carol Priddy, 64, of Independence died Monday at her home. She was born Nov. 8, 1949, in Salina to Earl and Wanda (Christensen) Priddy. She was raised in Lincolnville and graduated from Centre High School. She attended Emporia State University and Brown Mackey College.

Shirley Rock

Shirley A. Rock, 80, of Herington died Feb. 4 at Salem Home in Hillsboro. She was born July 14, 1933, in Herington and raised by her mother, Helen (Reissig), and stepfather Francis D. Singleton. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Herington, where she was baptized, confirmed, and married. She graduated from Herington High School in 1951.

Allen Sangwin

Allen “Buck” Ray Sangwin, 73, died Monday at his home in White City. He was born April 19, 1940, in Council Grove to William “Bud” and Iva “Kate” Carr Sangwin. He grew up in White City and graduated high school in 1958. He married Joyce Nienstedt on May 27, 1967. They spent their early married life moving between White City, Herington, Abilene, Antelope, Marion, and Emporia before returning to White City in 1970.

A. Wayne Wiens

A. Wayne Wiens, emeritus professor of biology at Bethel College, died unexpectedly Feb. 6. He was born Oct. 31, 1936. He graduated from Hillsboro High School and received a bachelor’s degree in natural science at Bethel College, a master’s in zoology at Kansas State University, and a doctorate in biochemistry and cell biology at Northwestern University.

IN MEMORIAM:

Accidents reported

County Jail arrests and bookings

Criminal division cases

Deeds recorded

Emergency dispatches

Marriage licenses issued

Offenses reported

Police incident reports

Traffic division cases

Local YouTube sensation speaks to national beef conference

“Why do I make videos? Because I can,” Derek Klingenberg said during a presentation Thursday at the Butler County Conservation District Annual Meeting where he gave a talk similar to the one he gave Feb. 10 in Nashville. Klingenberg was invited to speak to a group of American National Cattlewomen before the Cattle Industry Annual Convention and NCBA Trade Show.

Snow keeps wheat safe

For winter wheat crop, snow helps with preservation, but not necessarily because of moisture. Extension Agent Rickey Roberts said when snowfall from the past week melts, the county may receive only three-quarters to half of an inch of moisture into the ground.

Conservation funds available

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has funding to assist Kansas farmers and ranchers renovating shelterbelts and restoring forested riparian buffers, state conservationist Eric B. Banks announced last week. Signup for the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative is due March 21. The USDA will provide $684,000 in assistance for projects in Kansas. Recipients also may receive services or resources from the state forestry agency.

Declining cattle herds lead to increased beef prices

Kansas is home to 5.8 million cattle, but that number is down 1 percent from last year. The decrease has increased beef prices in supermarkets across the state and country. This year the U.S. has 87.7 million head of cattle, the fewest since 1951.

Area cattlemen are industry leaders

Mark Harms of Lincolnville and Tracy Brunner of Ramona are friends, and both play leading roles in the cattle industry. Brunner was elected last week as the vice president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and Harms recently completed a one-year term as the president of the Kansas Livestock Association. KLA is an affiliate of NCBA.

Welcome Home

This week the Married Daughter and What’s His Name return to Peabody after spending two weeks visiting friends in Romania. Through the wonders of Facebook we have been able to go along as they toured Bran Castle — better known as the home of Count Dracula — dined on some incredible looking meals, and shopped for treasures the Married Daughter may or may not be able to get through customs. They did some sledding with their friends’ school-age children and found out they are finally closer to middle age than their fun and agile teenage years. I must admit, that realization was a long time coming.

Don't get caught up in TV hype

This week we received an e-mail from an in-county business group informing us that Wichita television stations were going to be here to sell advertising on their stations. “Hope to see as many of you there as we can!” the e-mail gushed. “This will be a great opportunity for our community!” This isn’t the first time I’ve seen local groups trip over themselves in a rush to say what a great deal Wichita TV advertising is. It would be almost comical if it wasn’t competing with local companies who specialize in business promotion.

GUEST COMMENTARY:

DAYS OF YORE:

Mildred Vogt to celebrate 90th birthday

Mildred Vogt, formerly of Hillsboro, was born March 1, 1924, on a wind-swept Nebraska homestead. She will celebrate her 90th birthday with a reception with friends and family from 1:30 to 4 p.m. March 2 at Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton. She attended Tabor College in the 1940s, and while there she met Vernon Vogt, who she married. In the 1950s, they and their children traveled to the Belgian Congo as missionaries. She taught childbirth and nutrition classes.

90th birthday celebration for Wayne Larsen

Former Peabody resident and 1944 Peabody High School graduate Wayne Larsen will celebrate his 90th birthday Feb. 20 and would like to have his friends and acquaintances from Peabody join him. The festivities will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Haysville Senior Center at 160 E. Karla in Haysville.

Peabody Achievers met Feb. 9

The Peabody Achievers 4-H Club met at 6:30 p.m. February 9 in the Peabody-Burns Elementary School music room. The meeting was called to order by President Brandon Entz. Roll call was called by Secretary Corin Parmley and answered by members guessing how many candies were in a jar. Secretary Morgan Gaines read the minutes from last month’s meeting.

WONSEVU:

HOPE IN THE HEARTLAND:

Solomon girls pull away from Lady Warriors in 2nd half

The Lady Warriors performed well in the first half against Solomon but were defeated 39-26 in the Friday homecoming contest. Up next this week is a makeup game against Elyria Christian and road games at Remington and Goessel. Brianna Larsen led the first quarter scoring with a trey and a 2-point basket. Katy Benson had a 2. Solomon scored 8 and led by 1 at the end of the first, 8-7.

Warrior comeback falls short

Despite a third quarter comeback, the Peabody-Burns Warriors fell to Solomon 54-40 in the Friday homecoming matchup. An intense first quarter left the game tied at 13 at the end of the period. Braxton Kyle led with a trey and a 2-point basket. Kevin Baatrup and Garret Schroeder had 4 points each.

Calls to Oasis normal procedure

Marion police have answered several calls to Oasis, Marion County’s cooperative special education facility the past few months. They say the calls are routine when students act out in class. “They call us when someone acts up,” chief Tyler Mermis said. “We make sure everyone is safe.”

Local students make WSU honor roll

Marion County had several representatives out of 2,200 students at Wichita State University make the Dean’s Honor Roll for the 2013 fall semester. Students at the least must earn a 3.5 grade point average and be enrolled in 12 credit hours to make the list. Hillsboro Kelsey E. Bartel, Clara M. Ens, Samantha J. Ens, Brandon R. McMillen, Carroll J. Perry, Benjamin J. Schaefer, and Jordan R. Woelk. Marion Colleen M. Tajchman. Peabody Rebecca J. Morris.

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