PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

70-mile police chase ends in time

An alleged truck thief led officers on a dusty, dangerous 70-mile, hour-long chase down county roads Tuesday through Peabody and Burns, but ran out of road in Butler County just before a pursuing officer ran out of gas. A call apparently made to dispatchers by a disgruntled driver reported that an EMB Construction truck was driving fast and erratically on US-50 east of Walton. The driver used a phone number on the side of the truck to call the owner, who said the truck had been stolen.

Ignore lake's algae warnings at your peril

A family of five splashed and paddled in the Marion County Lake swimming area Saturday, while a jet skier raced along a shoreline to the east. The family from McPherson County hadn’t seen signs placed on a hill between a parking lot and the beach, warning them to stay out of the water because of a toxic blue-green algae bloom.

Looking for a screening room? Try the library

A new licensing agreement, along with a new smart TV and external sound system, has turned Peabody Township Library into a private screening room for movies from several major production companies. A group of Westview Manor residents were among the first to have a private showing there.

One small step for artkind

At first glance, Florence artist David Woody and Aulne artist Julie Starks seem an unlikely pairing. White-bearded “Woody,” as he’s called, is in his mid-60s and creates sculptures and functional pieces using Osage orange pieces scrounged from hours of walking hedge rows. He works in a downtown shop with the straightforward name Woody’s Creations.

Lake 'extremely ignored,' new superintendent says

A former campus and McPherson County public works employee who thinks the county lake has been “extremely ignored” will become its new superintendent Aug. 7 — provided he approves of the lake house that comes with the job. County commissioners announced Monday that Bryan Metz had accepted their previously secret offer to take the job for $40,000 a year and live in the house, with county-paid utilities. The county estimates the value of the free housing as an additional $7,200 a year.

Female deputy is leaving

Marion County’s only female law enforcement officer, sheriff’s investigator Wilma Mueller, is moving after 6 ½ years to be closer to family members in Colorado. Her last day on duty will be Aug. 2.

Landowners to discuss widening road

A public meeting for 23 landowners with property along an eight-mile stretch of 330th Rd. is planned for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 3 at Durham Community Center. At issue is whether residents care whether the long-troublesome road between K-15 and McPherson County needs ditches and shoulders at the same time the surface is redone.

County leaves Bowron

Hillsboro chiropractor Kodi Panzer’s Marion office will become home to the county planning and zoning department Monday. Panzer and Russell Groves of Marion County Community Economic Development Corporation spoke to county commissioners for the second time in a week this past Monday about the county renting the building instead of keeping the department in the Bowron Building at the corner of 3rd and Main Sts.

Cindy Jo Bird

Services for 1978 Centre High School graduate Cindy Jo Bird, 56, who died July 18 in Florence, Kentucky, were Monday at Zeiner Funeral Home, Herington. Private inurnment is planned later. Born Sept. 19, 1960, to Robert A. Potocnik Sr. and Janie Gonzales Heitfield, she was baptized at St. John Nepomucene Church in Pilsen, worked at Russell Stover in Abilene for 20 years and for Frito Lay in Kentucky.

Faye Kimball

Services for retired Hillsboro caregiver Faye Ann Kimball, 66, who died July 19 at her home, will be 1p.m. Thursday at Zion Lutheran Church. Born March 15, 1951, in Shawano, Wisconsin, to George and Lois (Diestler) Kimball, she graduated from Salina High School and Bethany College.

Vernon Hein

Inurnment for former car salesman Vernon W. Hein, 77, who died July 2 in Roseburg, Oregon, will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Marion Cemetery. Born June 20, 1940, in rural Marion County to Williams and Catherine (Ruby) Hein, he went to school in Florence.

Accidents reported

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Deeds recorded

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Marriage licenses issued

Offenses reported

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Traffic division cases

Custodians use summer to do a deep cleaning

A crew of nine people has been busy all summer giving Marion-Florence school facilities a deep cleaning. They finished the high school and middle school several weeks ago and now are working at the elementary school.

Groundskeeper provides safe enviroment

Danny Maddox describes his position with the Marion-Florence school district as “low on the totem pole,” but he does many things that are essential to its operation. Maddox, 59, is a groundskeeper, custodian, and bus driver.

Custodian enjoys flexibility

Money isn’t everything. Marty Hoffner of Durham found that out 10 years ago when she gave up factory work for a job as custodian in the Hillsboro school district.

Count on the county to do the wrong thing

For 128 years, the graceful cut-stone walls of downtown Marion’s historic Bowron Building have survived floods, tornadoes, booms, and busts. Now they face their stiffest challenge: surviving county government. After 24 years of neglectful ownership, county commissioners washed their hands of the building Monday after nearly a decade of bad-mouthing it. The last remaining county office will move out next week.

Live from Marion County, it's fake news

Fake news isn’t something that happens just in Washington. We in Marion County seem pretty adept at fostering fake news without any help from Beltway pundits. Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce sent an email Monday afternoon asking whether anyone in the area had a bouncy house.

A merry-go-round of defense

When a defendant can’t afford an attorney, Judge Michael Powers has to find one. With changes in laws, fewer attorneys taking court appointments, conflicts with other cases, and hourly rates half or less of those charged for private practice, it’s not always easy.

CLARIFICATIONS:

Retiring at 55 - not age but years of service

Being a secretary and office manager in the Kansas State University/Marion County Extension Service office has been the work of a lifetime for Doris Winkler, who will retire at the end of the month after 55 years. She began at age 18, soon after graduating from Centre High School and marrying her husband, Gene, in 1961.

Quilt takes 40 years

A quilt that Joyce Kyle started 40 years ago and was finished this spring with the help of friends has sold for $7,000 at a benefit auction in Ft. Worth, Texas. The auction, named in honor of her “American Sniper” grandson, Chris Kyle, benefits other veterans.

Couple to wed

Dale and Kim Nellans of Peabody announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Jamie Nellans of Shawnee, to Thomas Smith, also of Shawnee, son of Tom and Joyce Smith of Olathe. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Erma June Nellans of Peabody and the late Glenn Nellans.

Card shower requested

Marge Gray’s family and friend Liz Clark are requesting a card shower for her 90th birthday Tuesday. Cards may be sent to her in care of Peabody Health and Rehab, 415 N. Locust St, Peabody KS 66866.

P.E.O. meets for brunch

Hostesses Debbi Darrow, Diane Sams, Belinda Skiles, and Lois Smith served a summer brunch to 14 members of the local P.E.O. chapter at 10:30 a.m. July 18 at Marion Presbyterian Church. Members heard committee and convention reports. \The next meeting will be 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Aug. 28 at Marion City Library.

Senior center menu

WONSEVU:

Centre staff gets 3 percent raise

Centre’s school board has approved 3 percent raises for teachers, Administrator Susan Beeson, and classified personnel. Base pay for teachers will be $35,396, with a step up in salary for every year of experience and additional pay for more college credits. The highest salary will be $49,258 for a teacher with 24 years of experience and a master’s degree plus 32 hours or a specialist degree.

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