PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

Family seeks homes for dumped puppies

Florence resident Natasha Craig loves animals of all types. She and her family have several cats, horses, and a German Sheppard, Mercedes, to call their own, but recently seven more four-legged friends have called her house, home. The story of Annie, the stray little black dog began a week ago outside Cedar Point when an elderly man and his wife found the puppy running wild outside their home.

Commission votes on health benefits

After receiving options for county employee health rates Monday from BlueCross BlueShield, commissioners discussed different methods for the county to help pay for benefits. The commission first voted to step up the county’s portion of its $606 family plan to pay $50 per month per employee, with the option to increase that amount to $100 in 2016. Commissioners also approved paying a $470 monthly option covering single employees.

Newspapers win 17 state awards

Hoch Publishing Company, publisher of the Marion County Record, Hillsboro Star-Journal, and Peabody Gazette-Bulletin, has won 17 awards in the Kansas Press Association 2013 Awards of Excellence. “We don’t write the newspaper to win awards,” news editor Adam Stewart said. “We do it for our readers, but getting this recognition is a nice bonus.”

Farmer flown to hospital after semi rollover

Several Marion County emergency responders rushed to the scene of a farm semi-truck rollover Wednesday off Nighthawk Rd. south of 190th Rd. The driver, Linferd Funk of Hillsboro, had to be life watched to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. Funk was the only one in the semi as it rolled once into the east ditch of the road spilling most of its load of soybeans into the ditch.

11th annual charity auction is Sunday

The Holy Family Parish will have its 11th annual charity auction Sunday at the Pilsen Community Center. In the past decade, the event has grown in size but changed its focus to benefit local people who are in need. “It started as a bake sale to raise money for overseas missions,” event committee member Sam Oborny said. “Over the years, it expanded to a live and silent auction, and now almost all the money raised stays in Marion County.”

Peabody City Council fills two positions

After an executive session Monday evening, Peabody City Council members approved a recommendation by Mayor Larry Larsen and City Administrator Mac Manning to hire Krishyn Caldwell to fill a part-time position in the city office and Jonathan Richstatter as a maintenance worker for the public works department. The vacancies in those departments were created by the resignations of Leah Ottensmeier and Darren Pickens.

Doctor tells ways to reduce heart disease risk

Heart disease is the number one killer for women, greater than all other cancers combined, Dr. Paige Hatcher said Monday at St. Luke Hospital’s Lunch and Learn presentation. “Even changing one little thing to reduce your risk, can make a big difference,” she said.

Tabor launches campaign for arts center

Around 300 Tabor College donors, faculty, staff, and students attended the annual donor appreciation dinner Friday evening at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, during which Tabor President Jules Glanzer announced the school’s goal to build a new Center for the Arts on campus. “We are excited to elevate Tabor College to the next level when it comes to the fine arts,” Glanzer said. “We want our students to be able to learn, grow, and perform in this brand new 50,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility. This will finally give us a place for our students to come and worship under one roof, all together.”

Katharine Johnson

Katharine “Katie” Johnson, 92, of Newton died Feb. 19 at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital in El Dorado. She was born May 7, 1921, to E.S. and Kate (Lear) Irwin in Liberal. She is survived by two sons, Stephen Johnson of Newton and H.J. Johnson of Carthage, Mo.; a daughter, Bonnie Dexter of Wichita; 10 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Chris Jost

Christ Jost, 52, died Feb. 17 at Hillsboro Community Hospital. He was born Feb. 20, 1961 in Breckenridge, Minn., to Lawrence and Bonnie (Fritts) Jost.

Margaret May

Margaret May, 93, died Feb. 18 in Hillsboro. She was born March 31, 1920, in Emporia to Joseph Corey and Dora Van Gorden. She married Lawrence May on Aug. 14, 1938, in Emporia.

Accidents reported

Civil division cases

County Jail arrests and bookings

Criminal division cases

Deeds recorded

Emergency dispatches

Marriage licenses issued

Offense reports

Police incident reports

Traffic division cases

Marion couple slowly transforms house

When they purchased the house at 308 Miller St. in Marion in 1975, Terry and Pam Chizek were undaunted by the knowledge that it was built in 1924 and had seen floodwater several times. Throughout the ensuing years, they have made it into their own unique creation. In addition to replacing plaster and making other changes to the interior, they added a lot of rock to the house and yard, including a backyard with a limestone wall on two sides and a waterfall and pond constructed of rock.

It is never too early to prep gardens for spring

While many may have taken advantage of the springlike weather to take care of outside work, Serenity Gardens owner Jana Dalke said it’s best to wait until mid-April before planting anything in the garden. “If it was up to me I would wait,” she said. “The weather is still too unpredictable and there’s still a chance of cold weather killing plants.”

More moving toward hard-surface floors

When Jeannie Wildin of The County Seat got into the flooring business in the 1970s, carpet was king. Everyone wanted carpet in their homes. In recent years, though, the trend has been toward hardwoods, ceramic tiles, and stone. “Way more hard surface,” Wildin said.

The old swimmin' hole

Peabody City Council meetings often reveal surprising information and developments. These days the meetings are less lengthy and tedious than they were when I first started covering them 13 years ago. Back then I was in way over my head with engineer reports about bringing water to Peabody from Hillsboro and then later about upgrading the sewer system. Budget discussions took forever. Every council had to make tough choices and meetings rarely ended before 10 p.m. Things are a bit easier to cover these days, but that is not to say that the news I share with you is better. I am not going to tell you that your water will suddenly run clear from the tap or that the mill levy will drop considerably when the next budget is approved. You won’t see an upswing in repairs to streets, sidewalks, or curb and guttering. City departments will have to continue to make do with the equipment, vehicles, and personnel they have. The budget for 2015 will be as tight as it has been in the past.

Award-winning local journalism

We got the news Monday that we had won 17 Kansas Press Association Awards of Excellence for 2013, including eight first-place, eight second-place, and one third-place. When we had so many changes in the newsroom last summer, it didn’t take long for the new reporters to start producing award-winning work. Olivia Haselwood was in her second week at the paper when she took a photo looking out the cabin of a combine during wheat harvest, which won first place in the news photo category. Not to be outdone, Oliver Good took first place in the feature photo category for his photo looking out of the courthouse clock tower while it was being repaired.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:

DAYS OF YORE:

World Day of Prayer observance will be March 7

Observance of World Day of Prayer will be at 12:15 p.m. March 7 at Peabody Senior Center. The event is a global ecumenical movement of informed prayer, which dates back to 1812 when it became interdenominational. In 1927, it became known as World Day of Prayer.

Button contest ends Saturday

The contest to design the admission button for the 2014 Peabody July 4th Celebration will end Saturday. The contest is open to all ages and has few requirements. “The design must be original, must fit into a 2¼ inch circle, and must include the words ‘Peabody,’ ‘2014,’ and ‘4th Fest’ or ‘4th of July,” contest chairman Lisa Hodges said. “Entries should include the designer’s name, address, and phone number.”

Holy Land trip planned for Tabor students in 2015

Tabor College is again sponsoring a trip to the Holy Land Jan. 2 to 23. The trip will be led by Tabor Bible professor Dr. Douglas Miller, and will include 24 biblical sites, including Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem, the Jordan River (baptismal site), Sea of Galilee (boat ride), Jericho, ancient ruins, Dead Sea Scrolls, Masada, Mount Nebo, Petra, and several museums.

WRAPS offers no-till and cover crop incentives

Marion Reservoir Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy is beginning an incentive pay program to promote the use of no-till and cover crops in watershed areas. A workshop to learn more about the program will be from 11:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. March 11 at Lincolnville Community Center.

Huelskamp staff to have local office hours

Rep. Tim Huelskamp will have local office hours from 2 to 3 p.m. March 6 at the Hillsboro Community Room. During that time a representative of Huelskamp’s staff will listen to constituent concerns. For more information or to schedule an appointment call (620) 225-0172.

Neosho Basin Advisory Committee to meet in Marion

The Kansas Water Office’s Neosho Basin Advisory Committee will meet at 1 p.m. March 6 at the Marion Community Center. The meeting will discuss main water priorities for the Neosho Basin in reference to the Kansas Water Plan.

Lifelong Learning to take musical journey down Congo

Jill Schroeder-Dorn will take guests of the semester’s first Lifelong Learning session to the Congo at 9:45 a.m. Friday in Wohlgemuth Music Education Center. Her presentation “Church Music in the Congo” will feature video and audio recordings and discuss the development of Mennonite-evangelical music in the Congo.

Peabody UMC offers Lenten Meals

Peabody United Methodist Church again this year will provide a meal once a week during Lent to anyone in the community. The first Lenten meal will be from 5:30-6:45 p.m. on Ash Wednesday, March 5. These meals will continue each Wednesday through April 16.

Leadership group visits ranch, capital

Leadership Marion County members conducted their February classes at Morning Star Ranch in Florence and at the state capital. Kerry Maag organized the event and Teresa Huffman facilitated “The Egg,” a description of working, thinking, and learning styles.

Smart driver course offered

A smart driver safety course will be offered from 8 a.m. to noon March 10 and 11 at the Hillsboro City Building. The class is for all licensed drivers and will meet in the city building meeting room for two four-hour classes. No driving is required to complete the course.

Democratic Women to meet

Marion County Democratic Women will meet at noon Thursday at Marion Senior Center. Members are asked to bring crackers for Marion County Emergency Food Bank.

BIRTHS:

BURNS:

HOPE IN THE HEARTLAND:

Three receive conservation awards

Three Peabody-Burns Elementary School students received awards in a poster contest at the annual Marion County Conservation District dinner Saturday. Maddy Blythe won first place in the kindergarten-first grade division. She is the daughter of Lindsay and Joe Hutchison.

Goessel native to present piano recital

Michelle Unruh of Goessel will present a piano recital at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Bethel College Administration Building Chapel. She and fellow concert choir student Nichole Smith will play.

Warriors lose two games

Victory eluded the Peabody-Burns Warriors in two games last week with a loss at Pretty Prairie 62-56 and a loss to Moundridge 48-17. Little River

Girls' offense struggles in losses

Little River led the Peabody-Burns Lady Warriors 11-2 at the end of the first quarter on Feb. 18. Christa Elliott had the only basket for the PBHS squad. Rylie McDowell added the only points in the second quarter for the Lady Warriors with a 2-point basket. Little River added 11 and led 22-4 at halftime.

Lady Warriors to play in sub-state play-in game

Because of a nine-team sub-state assignment by the Kansas State High School Athletics Association, the Peabody-Burns girls’ basketball team will have to win a play-in game to make the playoffs. The Lady Warriors will tip off against the Canton-Galva Eagles at 1 p.m. Saturday in Canton.

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