BREAKING NEWS
UPDATED AFTER PRINT DEADLINE
Kansas Department of Health and Environment canceled both a blue-green algae warning for Marion County Lake and less-serious watch for Marion Reservoir on Thursday.
Swimmers, boaters, and anglers can engage in those activities without having to take precautions that earlier warnings and watches imposed.
Erik Barnes thought he had come up with a great father-daughter project several months ago.
“I told Paige and Rayna that, at our age and our comfort level with outdoor activities, we ought to plan a trip for each of them — do something unusual before they are wives and moms and I am too old to go along,” he said. “I thought the timing was just right.”
Vintage Bank Kansas has agreed to purchase Peabody State Bank.
The local bank will join three others owned by Vintage Bank Kansas principals Wink and Libba Hartman and Steve Worrell in Leon, Conway Springs, and Wichita.
As prospective buyers started bidding on a cache of 49 rifles, shotguns, revolvers, and air guns at Steve Hett’s estate sale Saturday, none knew that there was one gun they had no chance of getting.
Hett, who died in April, had a collection of outdoor gear and taxidermy so vast that it needed its own auctioneer for nearly five hours, while another sold everything else at his farm northwest of Florence.
Mary Hoffner has been able to stay in her home instead of going to a nursing home because she gets 10 hours a week of help.
Hoffner, 77, has suffered a heart attack and has COPD. She uses oxygen and needs a wheelchair or a walker to get around. Because of vision problems, she can’t be sure dishes are clean or the floor is thoroughly vacuumed. Having someone to come in a few hours a week helps with things like that.
Hoch Publishing welcomes two new employees this week.
Karlene Lovelady, most recently office assistant at Brookens Law, has been a Marion resident for 15 years.
A 55-year-old Marion man convicted of raping a 9-year-old was sentenced Thursday to less than nine years in prison after successfully pleading that he didn’t deserve the normally required sentence of life in prison with no chance for parole for 25 years.
According to a state offender registry, the defendant Gary Dwain Williams, 55, lived at 202 Garfield St. in Jex Addition in 2011 at the time of the offense.
Lincolnville entrepreneur Letizia “Tish” Vinduska harnessing the power of African Nightcrawlers’ digestive systems turning worm poop into profit as “Letizia Ann’s All Natural Soil Enhancer.”
“I’ve seen what these worms can do,” Vinduska said. “I’d like to make this a legit business, move it to a bigger building, get some employees, and help put Marion County on the map.”
Hillsboro fire chief Ben Steketee wants Marion County to spend around $50,000 to improve water rescue capabilities.
His plan involves buying two specialized water rescue boats, two boat motors, and a boat trailer, and establishing a properly trained water rescue team that would respond across the county.
Unmanned flying cameras — commonly called drones — are coming to Marion County.
Commissioners voted Monday to participate in Property Drone Consortium, which will provide a drone for use taking topography photos that can record storm damage, locate buildings, and assist in searches and.
A fire that engulfed mail carrier Pat Ash’s Jeep Wrangler last week also destroyed some but not all of the mail inside.
Marion firefighter Jim Davis discovered the mail.
Firefighters in Marion County are getting $76,975 from the Kansas Insurance Department to purchase insurance to protect firefighters.
Firefighter relief associations, based on fire districts, will receive these totals:
Twenty four participants met early Saturday at Pine Edge golf course near Goessel for the course’s 12th annual putting tournament.
K-State sophomore Dakota Cavaraugh of McPherson won, beating out his father, Mike Cavaraugh, and winning $100 and a green vest.
Advance voting in the Aug. 2 primary election begins today.
Voters can cast early votes at the courthouse. Hours also have been extended to make it easier for voters who can’t make it to the courthouse during regular business hours, county clerk Tina Spencer said.
As Billy Alcorn watched 250 drag racers square off at Herington airport in April, he knew his 1923 Ford Model T replica hot rod had more than enough horsepower to compete.
The 71-year-old Ramona man also knew enough not to try.
Tire trouble, engine overheating, failing air conditioning — summer brings its own set of woes for drivers.
When a car overheats, the problem often isn’t the coolant level, but rather is an issue with the radiator condenser, said Kurt Funk, service adviser at Midway Motors in Hillsboro.
Hillsboro native and Mennonite folk art author Ethel Abrahams, 92, of Hesston died July 5.
Born Aug. 3, 1923, to Gerhard and Helena (Peters) Ewert, she received a bachelor’s degree in art Bethel College and a master’s from Wichita State University.
Paul Ediger, 96, died July 6 at Hillsboro Community Hospital.
Born July 12, 1919, to David and Sara (Flaming) Ediger at Dubois, Idaho, he married Marcella Buller on Aug. 12, 1947, in Newton.
Hillsboro homemaker Ruth E. Ratzlaff, 94, died July 6 at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita.
Born Nov. 7, 1921, to Henry K. and Margaret (Harms) Warkentin in Reedley, California, she married Kermit Ratzlaff on Aug. 11, 1944, in Los Angeles.
Burns farmer and stockman Rodger L. Sidener, 65, died Saturday at Via Christi Hospital on St. Francis, Wichita.
Born March 7, 1951, in Newton to Lee and Evelyn (Kirkpatrick) Sidener, he graduated from Chase County High School.
Services for John Douglas Wilson, 43, who died July 3 at his residence in Marion, will be Friday at Jost Funeral Home, Hillsboro, which also is accepting contributions to his memorial fund.
Born Feb. 2, 1973, in West Covina, California, to Malcom and Nola (Madera) Wilson, he married Sondra Bezdek on April 18, 2012, in Marion.
IN MEMORIAM:
Doris Penner
There is an experience that goes along with writing an opinion column that never ceases to amaze me. The column I wrote this past week was a good example. It was just something I threw together in desperation. I thought it was about as lame as any I had ever written.
It was about the Youngest Daughter wanting me to find five pounds of sliced American cheese for her late in the afternoon on July Fourth. Even though I did not want to, I drove to another community to find the cheese so her restaurant could serve some special dish.
The first of a series of free outdoor movies will be shown at dusk Saturday at the beach area of Marion County Park and Lake.
This month’s movie has not yet been selected, but a similar showing the third Saturday in August will feature “Jaws” shown on a floating screen, with moviegoers asked to jump in the lake whenever the movie’s shark appears.
Groundbreaking for the new Mennonite Brethren Foundation building at 200 E. D St. will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
The foundation plans a new 8,800-square-foot office building, replacing a 5,500-square-foot building on Lincoln St. that has become too small for its 13 employees.
A twilight swim from 9 p.m. to midnight Friday at Hillsboro Family Aquatic Center will benefit Main Street Ministries.
Cost is $4 or three non-perishable food items.
A 5-kilometer run benefiting Goessel’s crosscountry team is planned for this year’s Threshing Days in Goessel.
A $25 entry fee includes a T-shirt and prizes for division winners.
A public forum will being the monthly meeting of Harvey-Marion County Community Developmental Disability Organization at 4 p.m. Monday at 500 N. Main St., Suite 204, Newton.
Central Kansas Regional Solid Waste Authority will meet at 7 p.m. July 20 at McPherson County transfer station, 1431 17th Ave, McPherson.
Technology Excellence in Education Network will meet at 6 p.m. July 20, 2016, in the USD 408 district office, 101 N. Thorp St., Marion.