BREAKING NEWS
UPDATED AFTER PRINT DEADLINE
County EMS director Brandy McCarty resigned Monday, following a 35-minute executive session with commissioners that included attorney Susan Robson, medical director Don Hodson, and EMS advisory board chairman Gene Winkler.
“She felt that if we’re going to go forward that it’s time for new leadership and we need to take a different approach to how we’re going to do it,” Chairman Dan Holub said in accepting McCarty’s resignation.
Because postal holidays for Veterans Day and Thanksgiving will disrupt normal mail delivery twice this month, we’ll try something different and publish two days early for each of the next three weeks.
Papers will be printed early each Monday, instead of early each Wednesday, and will be available on newsstands and in our offices around noon Monday and through the mail on Tuesday. Our office will be open both Saturday and Sunday for late-breaking news and advertising, just as we normally are on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Living in poverty can make structure and stability elusive. For those who attend Circles of Marion County, however, there is something that can be counted on: At 6 p.m. every Thursday at Marion Presbyterian Church, a hot meal is waiting.
The program itself provides structure as well, with a goal-oriented class devoted to addressing not just budgetary issues, but the entire poverty equation, including social factors and family considerations.
Commissioner Randy Dallke used the backdrop of a bleak economy and uncertain finances to pull back the reins Friday on raises for elected officials, and fellow commissioners climbed on board, chopping $1,500 off the $7,500 they plugged into the budget approved in August.
A $6,000 raise for clerk, treasurer, attorney, sheriff, and register of deeds was locked in for two years, with a salary review at the end of that period.
Kansas State Fire Chiefs Association has selected Lester Kaiser of Lincolnville as “Fire Chief of the Year.” Association president Brad Smith presented a plaque to him Oct. 23 at the state convention in Lawrence.
“I was surprised,” Kaiser said. “It was a bit emotional for me. I didn’t know what to say.”
God willing and circumstances allowing, Chaplain Captain Matthew Whitehead will make the trip from Ft. Riley to Pilsen on Wednesday for the 13th annual Veterans Day military pilgrimage.
Whitehead, one of several base chaplains, is coming because of the inspiration he infuses into his ministry with military families from the life and example of fellow chaplain and Korean War veteran Father Emil Kapaun.
Even though processing a deer may seem a touch different than separating wheat from chaff, the idea is similar. Remove what is of value and put it to good use.
However, there is more than one way to butcher a deer, and the method itself depends upon a hunter’s inclination.
It was a beautiful day for outdoor recreation Sunday, but there weren’t any swimmers taking advantage at the Cottonwood Point beach at Marion Reservoir.
However, around the next point north, there was an intrepid, furry paddler about 30 yards from shore, floating in the water, churning a slow but steady pace through light waves, making a beeline toward a shore about 200 yards distant.
Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission fee increases for fishing and hunting licenses Oct. 22. The new fees will be effective starting Jan. 1.
A resident annual hunting or fishing license currently costs $18, but will increase to $25. However, value-added options are built into the new fee structure, including $45 for a hunting/fishing combination annual license, and an early bird combination discount of $40 if purchased before Feb. 1.
Youth pheasant and quail season will allow all youth 16 and younger to hunt, under the supervision of an adult, for pheasants and quail statewide Saturday and Sunday.
The daily bag limits during the youth season are two rooster pheasants per day and four quail per day.
20th Century Club met Monday at Marion City Library. Hostesses were Carol Laue, Traci Lanning, and Helen Reznicek.
Mary Beth Bowers gave a program on widlflowers that grow in Marion County, and brought flowers to show members and describe how they have been used for medicinal purposes.
Kansas Soybean Commission has received around 50 research and education proposals for fiscal year 2017, which begins July 1.
Commissioners will give each an initial review on Nov. 13.
Frances Fulk, 95, died Oct. 27 at Salem Home in Hillsboro.
She was born June 27, 1920, to Iva and Clara (Brasfield) Upton in Purcell, Oklahoma.
Reva I. Goodwin, 92, died Oct. 30 at Asbury Park, Newton. In years past, she belonged to the Rebekah Lodge in Florence, Wonsevu Christian Church and Christian Church of Florence.
Funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Burns United Methodist Church. Interment will be at Burns Cemetery. Visitation with family was Tuesday at Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion.
Christian Steele Petersen, 32, died Oct. 24 at Wichita. He was born Aug. 13, 1983, to William and Sharon (Maples) Petersen in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
His mother, Sharon Wasemiller, preceded him in death.
IN MEMORIAM:
Brillyn Weerts
There’s nothing quite so convenient, and inconvenient, as when public officials’ reasons for firing an employee are cloaked behind that nebulous, seemingly impenetrable cloak of “confidentiality of personnel actions.”
Such is the case with last week’s firing of Peabody paramedic Larry Larsen from the Peabody EMS crew and as deputy county coroner. Commissioners remain tight-lipped when asked for rationale.
It looked like eight-man football between Peabody-Burns and Lebo on Friday, but the Warriors had an invisible advantage as they walloped the Wolves 62-14: They played with the hearts of 12 men on the field.
“We had two seniors (Brandon Entz and Cody Partridge) that couldn’t play their final game, and we were asked to put them in our hearts, and we did,” senior Clayton Philpott said. “Coach (David) Pickens, he didn’t get to play his senior year, either, and he asked if we had room for one more guy.”
Middle school students from Marion, Peabody-Burns, and Goessel Middle Schools will be performing with the Kansas Music Educators Association middle school band and choir Saturday at Andover Central High School.
Band performers include flutists Aubrey Craig, Cassie Meyer, Megan Neufeld, Jaden Slifer, and Jayden Spencer, all of Marion; clarinet players Cameron White of Marion and Morgan Gaines of Peabody-Burns; trombonist Lane Pettijohn of Marion; and tuba player Clarissa Stokes of Peabody-Burns.
A come-and-go reception to acquaint residents with Peabody Community Foundation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at the HUB.
“We hope to have a good turn-out,” PCF president Brad Nightengale said. “This is kind of a get-acquainted function. It is a good opportunity for us to meet people and help them discover what we are about, what we can do for our local nonprofits, and what our long-range goals are.”
Tabor College announced it will offer an accredited master of science in nursing degree beginning January 2016. The degree will offer an emphasis in either nurse education or nurse executive leadership. More information is available at www.tabor.edu/MSN.
A memorial wall for Kansas soldiers who have died in combat will be transported to Hillsboro American Legion on Sunday.
Kansas American Legion Riders will provide an escort from Marion Airport to Hillsboro American Legion, leaving the airport around noon.
Ross Janssen, KWCH Channel 12 meteorologist, along with his fan-favorite dog, Millie, will be speaking at Lifelong Learning at 9:45 a.m. Friday in Wohlgemuth Music Education Center at Tabor.
The session, titled “The Many Changing Faces of Kansas Weather,” will cover several topics concerning ever-changing weather and technology.
Marion native Mike Steinel and his jazz band, the Mike Steinel Quintet, will take to the McPherson Opera House stage Friday for a concert capping the two-day McPherson College Jazz Festival.
Internationally recognized as a jazz performer and educator, Steinel has taught jazz studies at University of North Texas for 28 years.