PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

Canada geese invade county

Whether green wheat fields, ice-free lake water, or good weather conditions attract them, there is no disputing the fact that thousands of Canada geese have made Marion County home this past week. “There are at least 2,000 of them on the lake today,” Brian Thiessen, Marion County Park and Lake assistant manager said on Tuesday. “They like to congregate in pockets on the ice to keep it warm. They like the places where water is flowing.”

City administrator resigns

At a public hearing Dec. 27, Peabody City Council approved amending the 2012 budget due to expenses exceeding the budget. After the public hearing, the regular council meeting got under way and the council wrapped up year-end issues. They also said goodbye to City Administrator Mac Manning, who retired from his position. Manning said he enjoyed the three years he served as city administrator and appreciated the council’s leadership. He was presented with a plaque of appreciation for his service by Mayor Larry Larsen.

Time to tag pets

Peabody City Clerk Stephanie Ax reminds pet owners that January is the month to renew pet tags for dogs and cats. Certification of current vaccinations issued by a licensed veterinarian is required for each animal.

Meal prices up for seniors

As of Jan. 2, the suggested donation for meals at senior centers for patrons 60 and older increased from $2.75 to $3.15, an increase of 14.5 percent. North Central Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging increased the price because of increases in workers’ compensation, food, and transportation costs. The agency also increased the price for anyone younger than 60 to eat from $4.50 to $5, an 11.1 percent increase.

Rachel Hunter joins newspaper staff

Rachel Hunter of Gouverneur, N.Y. is a new reporter, copy editor, and paginator at Hoch Publishing Company in Marion. She began her employment Monday after making the 1,380-mile trip. The 22-year-old graduated in December from Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Mich., with a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism, with an emphasis in news editorial.

Betty Bowen

WICHITA — Betty P. Bowen, 82, passed away Jan. 5, 2013, at the Catholic Care Center, Bel Aire. She was born on Oct. 17, 1930, at Chickasha, Okla., the daughter of Chester and Jackie (Holmes) Gowen. She was united in marriage to James T. Bowen. She spent many years in Phoenix, where she taught pre-school. She relocated in 2001 to Wichita.

Michael Childs Jr.

Michael J. Childs Jr., 37, died Jan. 2 at his home in North Newton. He was born April 4, 1975, in Hillsboro, to Michael Jay and Loretta Dee Smith Childs. He graduated from Marion High School and served in the U.S. Army 7th Cavalry Division for six years.

Mary Hiebert

Mary Hiebert, 97, died Friday at Wheat State Manor in Whitewater. She was born July 21, 1915, in rural Marion County to Henry Bernard Sr. and Eva (Hiebert) Schmidt. She attended Goessel schools. She married Jake Hiebert on April 13, 1937, at Tabor Mennonite Church. They farmed near Whitewater and owned a moving business.

Blanche Hoopes

Blanche Mary Hoopes, 98, passed away Dec. 27, 2012, in Canon City, Colo. She was born Feb. 19, 1914, in Harper to William McClellan and Hattie T. (Brown) Nye. Blanche grew up on a farm near Harper and graduated from Harper High School. She was united in marriage to Virgil Hoopes on June 11, 1933, in Attica. He preceded her in death on May 7, 1987.

Ruth Lewis

Ruth M. Lewis, 90, of rural Emporia died Jan. 3 at Emporia Presbyterian Manor. Lewis was born Feb. 7, 1922, to Walter C. and Gladys M. Higgins Kaniper in Youngtown.

Accidents reported

Civil cases

County jail

Criminal cases

Deeds

Emergency dispatches

Hillsboro police

Marion police

Marriage licenses

Offenses reported

Traffic cases

Flint Hills Gold sees steady sales

Many retail businesses, local and nationwide, reported less than stellar sales to close out 2012, but Beverly Schor and Sandy Loveless at Flint Hills Gold in Marion did not see that trend come to fruition. “Christmas was our busiest time of the year, like always,” Schor said. “But honestly, there hasn’t been much change from year to year; our business has been rock steady.”

Advisers offer solutions

Hillsboro financial adviser Robert Wall is not sure why a financial New Year’s resolution has not been en vogue. To him, the exercise of writing down every expense is just as valuable as doing curls and crunches in a gym. To those interested in instituting personal financial changes, Wall recommends balancing checkbooks on a regular basis and sticking to a budget. For some people, budgeting involves setting up smaller cash funds or giving themselves reminding e-mails. Wall added that every act should relate to a financial goal.

Fracking well approved

The first oil well in Marion County to use hydraulic fracturing — “fracking” — has been approved by the Kansas Corporation Commission Oil & Gas Conservation Division. A notice of intent to drill by Zenergy Operating Company LLC of Tulsa, Okla., was approved Dec. 14 for a lease on land in Section 30, Township 19, Range 2 near the intersection of U.S. 56 and Goldenrod Road northwest of Hillsboro. Kevin Jost owns the land. Zenergy Operating said in the notice that it expected to begin drilling Dec. 20.

County eyes mapping system

Marion County is considering spending $116,000 to update aerial photography of the county, which Sheriff Rob Craft said would make law enforcement’s job easier and safer. Pictometry International Corp. proposes taking new aerial photos of the county, including high-resolution photos of each city, as well as at the county lake and Marion Reservoir.

County will reroute 180th Road

Marion County Commission agreed with Union Pacific Railroad Dec. 31 to reroute a portion of 180th Road at its intersection with Remington Road to reduce the number of railroad crossings from two to one. Union Pacific agreed to purchase land and pay the county $50,000 to shift a stretch of 180th Road east of Remington Road a bit to the south. The county will be responsible for maintaining the rerouted road. Commissioner Roger Fleming said the change will make the intersection safer.

Recycling program might change

The prospects of Marion County continuing to pay for recycling bins in the county’s smaller towns sounded dim during a discussion Monday. Transfer Station Director Rollin Schmidt told county commissioners that Waste Connections has increased the price per recycling bin 10 percent to $138 per month. With the county’s cost to send trash to Butler County Landfill averaging about $40 per ton, it would take more than three tons per month recycled for a single bin to pay for itself.

One week into 2013

I don’t know if any of you paid attention or not, but my hopes of being a hometown girl able to claim a link to a winning team in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day went down in flames when the Florida State Seminoles whomped up on my Northern Illinois University Huskies, a lot to a little. But early on, it was kind of fun doing some cyber fist bumps with former friends and classmates scattered around the country. I even made the acquaintance of NIU fans in Salina, Belleview, Hays, and Wichita. I am proud to say I was the only one with a windsock sporting the NIU logo! The Kansas State University Wildcats didn’t fare much better in their bowl game and I really had higher hopes for them than I did for the Huskies. Oh well, as they say, each was just a game. You win some and you lose some!

A powerful but hidden tax

Exxon Mobil, BP Amoco, OPEC, and the City of Marion — all profit massively from rising energy prices while average consumers are left to foot an ever-increasing bill. While it’s true that Marion’s proposed four percent increase in electric rates would reflect higher costs and keep its rates more or less in line with the state average, what most people don’t know is that the city makes nearly 100 percent profit on electricity it sells.

BALANCING ACT:

DAYS OF YORE:

HOPE IN THE HEARTLAND:

Peabody Senior Center busy in January

Peabody Senior Center will celebrate January birthdays on Thursday with Kim Nellans’ oven-fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and all the trimmings. Also on that day, Peabody Care Center will provide free blood pressure checks and Gayla Ratzlaff will give a talk about hoarding.

Sorosi Beta has Christmas meeting

Sorosis Beta Club members met on Dec. 20 at the home of Pat Knust Henderson. Co-hostesses for the evening were Carolyn Rowland and Katherine Ragland. Katherine read, “Welcoming the Savior,” the Christmas story from the Bible.

Chess club meets Saturday

Florence Chess Club will meet from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at 726 Marion St., Florence — the old Catholic school. All ages and skill levels are welcome. For more information, call (316) 305-1780.

Windbreak, woodland funds available

Producers engaged in agricultural production or forestry management have until Feb. 15 to apply for fiscal year 2013 funds for woodland and windbreak improvement projects through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative. Eligible sites include shelterbelts that protect livestock or field crops. The Environmental Quality Incentive Program provides financial assistance to remove rows of old, ailing, and dead trees. The program can cover the majority of costs to plant new tree rows, apply weed barrier fabric or mulch, or install a micro-drip irrigation system.

Buddy Holly tribute Jan. 12

Billy McGuigan and his band bring the Buddy Holly tribute show “Rave On” at 7 p.m. Jan. 12 to the McPherson Opera House. Holly was killed in a airplane crash Feb. 3 with Richie Valens and Big Bopper J.P. Richardson. Tickets are available online at http://www.mcphersonoperahouse.org, by phone at (620) 241-1952, or at the box office at 219 S. Main St. in McPherson.

Ronald VanBuren turning 80

Ronald VanBuren will have his 80th birthday Jan. 22, and his family requests a card shower. He grew up in the Florence and Wonsevu area and retired from the El Dorado Texaco Refinery after a 37-year career. His winter address is 1320 W. Frontage Road, Lot F13,
Alamo, TX 78516.

Country preacher is a minister at heart

Jeff Lee learned he had a heart for ministry when, at age 22, he became the youth leader in a small Wesleyan church in Lansing, Mich. The church was in a rough neighborhood. Lee and his wife, Dawn, reached out and opened their home to area youth. In time, the youth group grew from four to 40. When the church meeting room filled, meetings spread to the church lawn.

Marion County 4-H'ers head to national contest

Nick Meyer, Bryce Roberts, Lauren Geis, and Karl Riffel hit the road Thursday to test their livestock judging skills at a higher level at the National Western Stock Show in Fort Collins, Colo. The Marion County 4-Hers qualified for the national competition by placing fourth at the state contest last fall in Manhattan. Typically, the top three teams represent the state at the national competition, but when one of the other teams became ineligible, Marion County was glad to fill the void.

CORRESPONDENTS:

Tabor adds sports assistants

Tabor College announced Monday the hiring of Steven Miller as defensive coordinator for the college’s football team and Andy Davis as assistant baseball coach. Steven Miller

College hires professor and director

Rick Bartlett, Fresno, Calif, was hired by Tabor College as the director of the Theological Education program. He also will work as an assistant professor of ministry and provide direction to the Christian Ministry undergraduate program and the newly created master’s offered in Entrepreneurial Ministry Leadership. The graduate theological program, which Bartlett will be developing and implementing beginning with the 2014-15 academic year, was made possible with funding provided by the United States Mennonite Brethren conference.

Hiebert on Hesston honor roll

Matthew Hiebert, a freshman from Peabody, has been named to Hesston College’s honor roll for the fall semester. To be named to the honor roll, a student must have a grade point average between 3.50 and 3.89. Lonnie and Debra Hiebert are his parents.

TEEN board to meet

Technology Excellence in Education Network will have its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 16 at the USD 408 district office, 101 N. Thorp St., Marion. For more information, contact Brandi Hendrix at (620) 877-0237.

PBHS boys win by 20

The Peabody-Burns High School boys’ basketball team began 2013 with a victory. The Warriors defeated Flint Hills at Rosalia, 50-30. The PBHS offense started slow in the first quarter but held a 3-point edge, 10-7, at the buzzer. Christian Gard led with 4 points. Tommy Morris, Braxton Kyle, and Hunter Pickens each added two points.

Burnett lights up scoreboard for girls

Brandee Burnett scored 21 points to lead the Peabody-Burns High School girls’ basketball team to victory in the first contest of 2013. PBHS defeated Flint Hills at Rosalia, 46-34. Flint Hills led 8-2 in the first quarter. Burnett was the only Lady Warrior to score in the period.

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