BREAKING NEWS
UPDATED AFTER PRINT DEADLINE
Embattled 1st District county commissioner Lori Lalouette announced her intent to resign at this morning’s commission meeting, effective March 20.
In a letter presented to commissioners, Lalouette cited competing priorities and illness as factors in her decision to resign.
The anti-chain gang was out in force at Monday’s meeting of the Peabody planning and zoning board to register myriad ills that would result from allowing a Dollar General store in town.
After about two months of talks with Dollar General representatives, the city council in November annexed 1.3 acres of agricultural land at the east end of 9th St. and bordering US-50 for a local addition to the variety chain’s 12,400 stores.
Weather forecasters last week predicted that Marion County could be encased in up to an inch of ice by Saturday,
with widespread power outages and hazardous roads.
Schools changed or canceled Friday basketball games to keep buses off anticipated ice-covered roads, weekend events were canceled, and people scrambled to prepare for the worst.
Marion County Park and Lake revenue was down by $6,600 in 2016 compared to the previous year.
Last year’s total revenue was $108,109 down from $112,721 in 2015.
County commissioner Lori Lalouette, threatened with a possible recall petition, expects to make a decision to resign or face possible recall by next week.
Lalouette has been embroiled in controversy since a committee formed to seek a recall election over the number of times she has been absent, arrived late, or left commission meetings early. She said Tuesday she is still contemplating and discussing the matter with people she trusts.
Florence firefighters will be lighting a fire under the griddle at the Florentine Building when they hold their annual pancake feed from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 5.
Chief Mark Slater said a group of six will get there early to have things ready for the early birds, and most department members will be there.
The Indigo Rd. home of Eric and Clarissa Dutton of Peabody was consumed by smoke and fire Jan. 10, and three local women want to help the family get back on its feet.
Cora Bloomer, Sharon Pickens, and Deanna Baker are putting on a come-and-go home shower from 1 to 5 p.m. Jan. 28 at Peabody Christian Church.
Former salesman Kenneth Decker, 78, died Jan. 11 in Lehigh.
Born Dec. 16, 1938, to Clyde and Esther (Bergman) Decker in Roxbury, he married Velma Nightengale at Canton, who preceded him in death.
Retired Raytheon electrical engineer Edwin J. Tajchman of Garland, Texas, died Dec. 19.
Born March 2, 1934, to Joseph T. and Rose (Oborny) Tajchman of Pilsen, he graduated from Ramona High School and served in the Army. He received a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and a doctorate from Denver University, both in electrical engineering.
IN MEMORIAM:
Sheila McGuireIN MEMORIAM:
Peggy Summerville
The older people get, the more difficult personal care routines can become.
Marion County Home Care understands this issue, and has been offering help to those in need, including a toenail trimming service at senior centers across the county.
By the time Julie Pagenkopf of Lincolnville gave birth to her second child, son Weston, in December 2014, she looked a good deal different from the woman husband Mark had married eight years earlier.
Pagenkopf was a slim 120 pounds when she married him in 2006. As is common to many young wives, she gradually gained weight. Within six years, she had put on another 60 pounds, or 50 percent of her original body weight.
“Stay Strong, Stay Healthy” is a new strength-training program that will be offered this spring by Marion County extension agent Renae Riedy.
The eight-week program will feature two sessions a week for people 50 years and older.
Well, here we go with my first attempt at dabbling my toes in the wading pool of Susan Marshall’s six regular readers, all the while hoping there are no piranha lurking below the surface. I’m fond of my toes.
Peabody city hall was no place to be Monday for thin-skinned Dollar General execs. Of course, none were present as members of the public let loose with a litany of doom and gloom over the prospects of the giant retailer coming to town at a planning and zoning committee meeting.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
Wonderful things about life
Help with the cost of winter heating is available to qualifying applicants through the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, which will accept applications this week through March 31.
To qualify for the program, household income must fall below 130 percent of the federal poverty level, and applicants must be responsible for paying the utility bill, either directly to a utility company or to the landlord.
Lifelong Tampa area resident Frieda Bentz, who lives near her 1918 birthplace, will turn 99 years old Jan. 27.
Her family has asked for a card shower to celebrate the occasion. Cards may be sent to 3454 Limestone Rd. Tampa KS 67483.
WONSEVU:
Rogers attends New Years Eve party
Tuesday’s matchups for Peabody-Burns in the Centre invitational tournament weren’t kind, as the girls were overwhelmed by Marion 58-22, and the boys bowed to Rural Vista 59-27.
While Kallie Hutchison showed early signs of life for PBHS, Marion quickly grabbed control, leading 14-4 at the end of the first quarter.
High school students can apply for scholarships online from the Kansas Masonic Foundation.
Ten $1,000 scholarships to each of the following schools are available: Kansas State University, Wichita State University, Washburn University, Pittsburg State University, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, and University of Kansas.
An agribusiness development workshop is slated for Feb. 2 in Emporia.
Speakers will include Kansas Department of Agriculture staff, Lyon County Economic development, USDA Rural Development, Kansas Department of Commerce, Network Kansas, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, Kansas Small Business Development Center, an agriculture business, and a financial institution.
The public is welcome to attend a Prairie Lawn Cemetery board meeting at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at Peabody City Hall. Topics include payroll and payables, burials, and any cemetery related concerns.
A mobile services van from Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs will be at Hillsboro American Legion post from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Feb. 10 and 11 to help veterans and relatives with questions about veteran benefits and programs.