HEADLINES

  • Arsonist ignites 1,200-acre blaze

    Arson was the cause of a large 1,200-acre grass fire that ignited at 11:25 p.m. Sunday southwest of Florence along 90th Rd. west of Xavier Rd., according to Kansas Fire Marshall. “I spoke with the marshal and the cause was ruled as ‘very suspicious,’” Florence fire chief Mark Slater said. “It started in the pasture, but we haven’t pinpointed what actually started it yet.”

  • Flurry of drug arrests in Peabody last week

    Four Marion County law enforcement agencies arrested five people in Peabody on a variety of charges during the late-night hours of March 2 and early morning hours of March 3. Alexis Worthington of Newton was arrested March 2. She was charged with criminal damage to property and possession of methamphetamines and drug paraphernalia. She was booked into Marion County jail early on March 3.

  • Dallke balks, Winkler walks out at county commission meeting

    Curiosity may have once killed a cat, but it brewed a spat at Monday’s commission meeting when Gene Winkler apparently asked one too many questions. When Economic Development director Teresa Huffman said she pays half the cost for small businesses to advertise with slides shown before movies at Chisholm Trail 8 Theatres in Newton, Winkler wanted to know more.

  • Tornado drill is March 15

    Tornado sirens will sound in an annual test of the warning system at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. “We run this type of a test every year,” Peabody Police Chief Bruce Burke said. “Hopefully people take advantage of it and practice what all members of the family should do in case of a tornado.”

  • Contest deadline for July 4th button is coming

    Peabody July 4th Celebration Society reminds people interested in submitting a design for the admission button competition that the deadline is March 30. “We have received several submissions,” committee member Lisa Hodges said, “but there is still time to others for come up with a design and turn it in.”

  • Nighthawk Rd. fix to throw drivers a curve

    Drivers who use Nighthawk Rd. to get from 190th Rd. to US-50 and vice versa will have to take alternate routes beginning in mid-April when a project to rebuild the curves at 130th Rd. is scheduled to begin. The project could be considered an unofficial kickoff to road work season, as interim road and bridge superintendent Jesse Hamm met with county commissioners Thursday to solidify plans that will keep road crews busy into early fall.

  • Debesis named new EMS director

    Ed Debesis was announced as the new Marion County EMS director during Monday’s county commission meeting. Debesis, who has been serving as interim EMS director and will begin his new position March 28, had experience in a similar position when he was EMS director for Mitchell County EMS from 2008 to 2014.

  • Man jailed for alleged rape of minor

    Former Marion County resident Dakota Dillashaw, 21, Winfield, was booked into county jail Feb. 26 on a July warrant alleging he engaged in sexual intercourse with a child under 14 in May 2013, classified as rape under state law. Dillashaw was taken into custody by officers in Sumner County after they checked with Sheriff Rob Craft to see if the warrant was still active and if the county would transport him. Craft said he was unaware of the circumstances in which Dillashaw came in contact with Sumner County authorities.

OTHER HEADLINES

  • Huffman stays the course and then some

    For Marion County Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman, her plans for the months ahead are simple: Keep doing what she’s been doing – which also means the plans are complex. “My job is different every day,” Huffman said. “When I come in here I think I know what I’m going to do, then the phone rings, people come in, and I’m off to who knows where.”

  • Caucuses bring out droves of participants

    A record number of people turned out for the local Democratic and Republican caucuses Saturday, handing victories to Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz. The Marion County Republican caucus brought out 645 voters, county Republican Chair Todd Heitschmidt said.

  • Quilt comes full circle Sunday at Kapaun Guild auction

    A quilt purchased at the Father Kapaun Guild auction in 2013 was purchased again Sunday in the 2016 auction by the same person and may show up there again. This phenomenon demands an explanation.

DEATHS

  • Mary Jolley

    Mary Alice (Wilson) Jolley, Marion, died March 6. There will be no services.

  • Dennis Ryff

    Ramona resident Dennis Dean Ryff, 59, died Feb. 29 at Wichita. A funeral service was March 4 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Herington. Burial followed at Lewis Cemetery, Ramona.

  • IN MEMORIAM:

    Tom Andrews
  • IN MEMORIAM:

    Donald Leppke
  • IN MEMORIAM:

    Donald Nightengale

DOCKET

FARM

  • Walking the fields and reading the wheat

    There is a relatively new agronomist out there walking between the rows, interpreting the growth of Marion County crops. Andy Kelsey, 25, started with Cooperative Grain and Supply about a year ago.

  • Prices fall, farmers tighten belts

    Falling grain prices are putting the squeeze on farmers’ incomes heading into spring. Wheat is selling at elevators for $2 less than at harvest time last year, and corn, beans, and milo are down considerably from last October.

  • Longtime auctioneer gives back to FFA

    Auctioneer Roger Hiebert conducted yet another Marion-Florence FFA work auction two weeks ago, a volunteer gig he’s been doing about 40 years now. It’s a way Hiebert gives back to an organization and a discipline that in the 1950s gave a shy young country lad what he needed to succeed in school. When Hiebert entered Hillsboro High School as a freshman in 1955, it was an abrupt change from attending elementary school in Aulne.

  • Raising poultry still popular with some

    Not many people purchase day-old chicks in large numbers for meat and eggs these days, but some still enjoy having their own eggs. Ben and Tina Schrag, who farm northwest of Goessel, maintain a flock of 60 to 65 laying hens to produce eggs for their own use and also to sell to family and friends.

  • USDA to offer noninsured crop protection

    Producers of noninsurable crops can get some relief from USDA Farm Agency when their crops are compromised by natural disasters. The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program provides financial assistance to producers when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented plantings occur due to natural disasters.

OPINION

  • Are you who you say you are?

    Here is a heads-up for my six regular readers. I want you to be safe and to keep all your records, personal information, and identity safe as well. I would really like to see all six of you attend the program on scams and identity theft given by Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt at 3 p.m. Thursday at Peabody Township Library. I have moderate knowledge about the Internet and how it works. I have social media accounts, but I do not post much personal information on those sites. Even my name is not really my name. I send and receive email and do a minimal amount of shopping online. I do no banking online. My computer presence is pretty conservative — I think.

  • Minus 348 and 19

    You’re probably wondering right now, “Minus 348 and 19 what?” I won’t keep you in the dark for long, but I’ll give you a hint: It has to do with economic development. Yes siree, it’s that topic again. Trust me, I’d rather be writing about light-hearted things, such as speculating on what the next color combination of Marion’s Central Park lights will be. But I seem to be the only one curious about such things, while lots of folks are suddenly interested in the survival of the county.

PEOPLE

  • Traxson, Hiebert to wed

    Ron and Patty Traxson of Peabody and Myron and Ann Hiebert of Goessel are pleased to announce the engagement of their children Courtney Traxson and Weston Hiebert. Traxson graduated from Cheney High School and Kansas State University. She works as a middle school counselor for Valley Center.

  • Curl up with a good book every month

    This month marks the first anniversary for a monthly book discussion group in Peabody. “The only thing better than reading a really good book — or even a really bad one — is sharing it with others,” group member Linda Wetta said. “A year ago, after occasional impromptu conversations with local readers, Sarah Kallansrud, Sharon Schmill, and Faie Frederickson started the monthly book club in Peabody.”

  • Card shower to mark Garrard birthday

    The family of John Garrard requests a card shower for his 80th birthday March 10. Those who wish to send Garrard a birthday greeting may do so by sending a card to John Garrard c/o St. Luke Living Center, 535 S. Freeborn St., Marion KS 66861.

  • Senior menu

  • BURNS:

    Friends gather for Rigg's birthday
  • DAYS OF YORE:

    10, 25, 50, 100, 125 years ago
  • WONSEVU:

    Snellings celebrate son's birthday

SCHOOL AND SPORTS

UPCOMING

  • Calendar of events

  • Cemetery board to meet

    Prairie Lawn Cemetery board of directors will meet at 7:30 p.m. March 17 in the council room at Peabody city building. Board meetings are open to the public.

  • Red Cross at Eastmoor March 17

    March is Red Cross month, and Red Cross will be receiving donations from 2:15 to 6 p.m. March 17 at Eastmoor United Methodist Church in Marion. Appointments may be made by calling 1-800-RED CROSS, visiting redcrossblood.org

  • Senior Citizens of Marion County to meet March 18

    Mill levy requests top the agenda for a Senior Citizens of Marion County meeting at 9:30 a.m. March 18 at Peabody Senior Center. Peabody seniors will be serving lunch and need reservations by March 16. Reservations may be made by calling Ruth Lott at (620) 983-2226.

  • Tree grants available

    Landowners, who have property adjacent to Marion Reservoir and in the Upper Cottonwood River watershed, can apply for financial assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture to improve water quality and wildlife habitat and plant trees on those acres. Eligible landowners can receive a cost share of up to 90 percent. Primary resource concerns are water quality degradation from soil erosion and the health and condition of trees in woodlands and forests. If a resource concern is identified, forestland, cropland, and grassland all have the potential to qualify for the funding.

  • Dr. Seuss, a movie, and a makeover at the library

    Marion City Library will offer a trio of events for children during spring break. An animated movie about an Apatosaurus named “Arlo,” who makes an unlikely human friend in the world of dinosaurs, will screen at 2:30 p.m. March 16 in the Santa Fe Room.

  • Cajun-inspired cooking class scheduled

    Chef Rob Scott will be offering a Cajun-inspired cooking class from 6 to 8 p.m. March 21 in the Hillsboro Middle and High School teachers workroom. Deadline to sign up is March 16. The cost is $20, and class size is limited to 15.

  • Smart driver course offered March 21-22

    Drivers may qualify for reduced car insurance rates by completing a smart driver safety course from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. March 21 and 22 at Burns Community Center. The class, which will be taught by Richard and Marilyn Riemer, is for all licensed drivers and will meet for two four-hour classes. No actual driving will be required for the course.

  • Water aerobics classes offered at aquatic center

    Water aerobics classes, taught by Karen Williams, have begun at Marion Sports and Aquatic Center. Classes are offered 6 to 7 p.m. Monday thru Thursday and cost is $5. All fitness levels are welcome to attend.

  • Public invited to garden program

    Denise Fetrow of Cedar Point will present a garden program at 2 p.m. March 13 at the Florence Public Library. Fetrow, who has been a master gardner since 2010, will talk about a planting calendar for vegetables and share what flowers can be planted in the Kansas climate.

  • Phil Keaggy to perform

    Guitarist and singer-songwriter Phil Keaggy will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. March 19 at McPherson Opera House. Singer-songwriter Ashley Cleveland will open the show. Tickets are $25, $30, and $35, student tickets are $10, and are available by visiting www.mcphersonoperahouse.org, calling (620) 241-1952.

MORE…

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