PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

Self-sufficiency: A path to health

For some, it is difficult to say what is more terrifying: Facing a serious health affliction without health insurance or traversing the mountainous debt necessary procedures could incur. Presented with such a scenario, it is hard to arrive at a solution that is as creatively industrious as Peabody resident Rob Oursler’s answer is.

City gives raises

Without any discussion in open meeting Monday, city council emerged from a closed executive session to grant hourly raises to part-time police, full-time city employees, a seasonal employee, and a $5,000 annual raise to police chief Bruce Burke. The motion came immediately after an executive session requested by Burke to discuss nonelected personnel matters. Such sessions are typically conducted to protect the privacy of an individual.

Dallke words spark backlash

Commission chair Randy Dallke’s behavior at last week’s meeting drew a written rebuke from a county resident who characterized his manner as “bullying.” Reported in this paper, Dallke upbraided commissioner Dianne Novak at the March 20 meeting for allegedly giving lake resident Garry Dunnegan permission to cut a tree and dump rocks at Marion County Park and Lake, for which Dallke wanted the county to press charges against Dunnegan.

Council to decide zoning issue April 4

Peabody City Council will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. April 4 at city hall. Council members will consider a recommendation from the planning and zoning commission to approve a rezoning request for a proposed Dollar General store.

Will Peabody give up economic development?

Peabody could be the first city to hop on the bandwagon of the new Marion County Economic Development Corporation, but unanswered questions Monday kept city council members from redirecting $25,000 to the organization for now. MCEDC is an outgrowth of a county commission task force. It is a nongovernmental corporation focused on countywide economic development, with a goal of bringing together resources from the county and cities to promote business, jobs, and work force development.

Man's best friend or postal carriers' worst nightmare?

A recent uptick in violent dog encounters, some of which resulted in injuries, has given county postal carriers cause for alarm. “We’re very concerned about the recent dog bites to our carriers, and the many close calls our carriers face on a daily basis,” Marion Postmaster Lori Kelsey said. “These dog encounters have got to stop.”

Florence school to be demolished

A dilapidated school building the county ended up owning because nobody showed up to bid at a tax sale will soon be demolished. Commissioners on Monday moved toward making good on a promise Randy Dallke made a year ago when ownership of the abandoned Florence Memorial High School defaulted to the county.

Meeting to focus on skilled labor training

A program that could provide county manufacturers with skilled workers will be the topic of a noon luncheon meeting April 12 at Marion Community Center. More than 1,000 people in south central Kansas would be eligible to receive free training through new or expanded partnerships between employers, educational institutions, training programs, and community organizations.

Voices call for county administrator

A push for hiring a county administrator to improve county management is gaining momentum from various circles. Of the 21 counties with administrators or managers, seven have budgets smaller than Marion County’s $27 million annual budget, according to the Kansas Association of Counties.

Knife altercation leads to arrest

In a chilling confrontation, a man suspected to be under the influence of alcohol allegedly tried to stab a Hillsboro man with a buck knife at 2:11 a.m. Sunday in the 200 block of E. 1st St. Christian Frank Ward, 40, told police he was in his shed when he heard “what he thought was someone trying to open his truck,” according to Hillsboro Police chief Dan Kinning.

Need for radios causing headaches for fire chiefs

Rural fire districts are grappling with how they will come up with money to buy 800 MHz radios they will soon be required to carry. Firefighters can neither afford the radios nor ignore the need to buy them.

A burial fit for a Pharaoh

Others would have left the bobcat carcass on the road, but Hillsboro High School student Sonja Jost saw a more noble fate for the lifeless creature. She took it home and put it in the freezer. She found the corpse, still warm, while driving home. She got a tag from the Department of Wildlife for it, and put it in the freezer to keep until she had time over spring break for her project: Mummification.

Jane Matthews

Jane Matthews, wife of Marion native Glenn Matthews, died in Greeley, Colorado on Sunday. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. April 8 at Valley Methodist Church.

IN MEMORIAM:

IN MEMORIAM:

Accidents reported

County jail

Deeds reported

Emergency dispatches

Offenses reported

Traffic division

Business rejuvenates concrete surfaces

Scott Schultz of Lehigh was working as a mechanic when he decided he wanted to strike out on his own. It took him a couple of years to find something, and when he did, he settled on restoring concrete surfaces.

Growing produce an ever-changing adventure

Growing your own produce is an adventure that changes from one year to another. Even the best of gardeners will have great luck one year and lousy luck another, said Tampa resident Ron Jirak, primary operator of Jirak Brothers Produce. The family business got its start with his father and is now operated full-time by Ron with help from his relatives.

Do butterflies dream of eclectic milkweed?

What does a creature that matures by digesting itself into soupy goo while it entirely reshapes its body into a colorfully-winged beauty want out of life? As it turns out, butterflies just want the simple things. Ward Upham, state master gardener and rapid response coordinator with Kansas State University, said there are a few things people can do to attract butterflies.

Selling a phantom

Marion County Economic Development Corporation is in search of new members. That means getting cities to buy into the task force’s vision, with dollars as well as mindset, that an economic development corporation working with combined resources to promote and develop the county as a whole will work better than anything cities might do individually.

Museum opens April 6

Marion Historical Museum will open earlier than usual this year. Instead of opening in June, it will open April 6. Director Peggy Blackman said teachers requested the earlier opening to allow more time for high school and middle school classes to tour the museum. The earlier opening also will provide expanded research opportunities for high school students.

County historical society takes first steps toward reorganization

An enthusiastic group of 20 people attended a Monday meeting of Marion County Historical Society in Marion. The organization has been inactive since the late 2000s. This was the third meeting since last fall to determine the direction it will take in the future. Mary Olson of Peabody coordinated the meeting. It was attended by representatives of almost all of the museums in the county, as well as Steve Schmidt, director of the Cottonwood Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association, and other interested individuals.

Card shower requested for Bryant's 80th birthday

The family of Janet (Priddle) Bryant is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday. She was born April 7, 1937, and graduated from Marion High School in 1955.

Child advocacy to be session topic

The dynamics of child abuse, and what people can do to make a difference, will be the topic of Tabor College’s Lifelong Learning session at 9:45 a.m. Friday at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church Activity Center. Lisa Donahue, a child advocate from Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center, which serves Marion, Harvey, and McPherson counties, will speak. She will identify child abuse trends throughout the tri-county service area including types of abuse, who typically offends, where it happens, and who is most vulnerable. Common signs of abuse will be discussed, and risk and protective factors will be highlighted.

Specialty crop grants available

Projects and organizations working to improve the economic growth of specialty crops are eligible to apply for grants from Kansas Department of Agriculture. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops.

Senior center menu

Free child screenings are April 11

Free developmental screening for children birth through 5 will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m. April 11 at Lincolnville. Development of cognitive, motor, speech/language and social/emotional domains will be checked. Vision and hearing also will be screened. The process usually takes at least one hour.

Area school menus

Calendar of events

Gospel ensemble performs April 9

Hearts4Him, a gospel men’s ensemble will present a concert at 7 p.m. April 9 at Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church in rural Hillsboro. Refreshments will be served following the concert.

Contest captures images of aging

A contest featuring photos of senior citizens is open to professional and amateur Kansas photographers of all ages from April 1through May 15. The Landon Center on Aging at the University of Kansas Medical Center is sponsoring the Images of Aging contest.

Tabor choir performs Sunday

Returning from its annual spring break tour, Tabor College Concert Choir be in concert at 4 p.m Sunday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. The choir performed at seven churches and one school in Colorado and California, and also at a Tabor alumni dinner in California.

Cosmosphere scholarships available

Deadline for scholarships for children wanting to attend summer space camp at the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson is April 14. Cosmosphere offers scholarships for children who may not have finances to attend camp days, which run throughout the summer.

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