PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

HEADLINES

Battling school daze
Battling school daze Greeters help kids start day By JUDD WEIL Staff writer Rain or shine, familiar faces help Marion Elementary students start their day on the right foot.
Marion replacing aging meters
Marion is replacing nearly all of its water meters. Most of the city’s roughly 900 to 1,000 meters are 13 to 14 years old and have reached the end of their life expectancy, city administrator Brian Wells said.
Preschooler have ball learning
Preschoolers have a ball learning By JUDD WEIL Staff writer A simple concept — a ball — is helping Marion Head Start students develop critical early learning skills through hands-on exploration, movement and play. The ongoing “ball study,” part of the program’s creative curriculum, blends physical activity with foundational academic concepts for students ages 3 and 4.
Zoning issues complicate stable plan
As planting season progresses, rising fuel, fertilizer, and chemical costs are weighing on farmers across Marion County, leaving producers with little flexibility to adjust. Input prices remain elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels, squeezing margins for operations that must move forward regardless of market conditions.
Police have to undo nature's mischief
It was the nightmare of everyone who gets up on a ladder. Hillsboro police had to help a man down from a roof Sunday after his ladder blew down, assistant chief Randy Brazil said.
Grant helps Lincolnville fire department
A grant will help Lincolnville Fire Department put additional protective gear into service for volunteer firefighters. MFA Oil Foundation awarded $2,000 that will be paired with another grant to purchase personal protective equipment, or bunker gear, fire chief Lester Kaiser said.

NEWS

Citizens raise concerns at Peabody
Complaints about nuisance properties and loose dogs dominated public comment Monday as Peabody City Council addressed a short agenda that included a governance presentation and action to set terms for court-appointed attorneys. One resident described worsening conditions at a property in the 400 block of N. Locust St., citing vehicles, debris, and what she said was a growing nuisance.
County handles routine business
Marion County commissioners moved through a light agenda Monday, approving routine items, making an appointment, and adopting proclamations with little discussion. They approved reappointing Daryl Enos to the 8th District Judicial Nominating Commission.

DEATHS

Helen Bernhardt
Services for Helen L. Bernhardt, 85, who died April 6 at Parkside Homes, Hillsboro, were Sunday at Marion County Lake hall. Burial was in Lincolnville Cemetery. Born Sept. 2, 1940, in Winfield to David and Louise (Langloys) Weathers, she graduated from Lincolnville High School and on Oct. 18, 1959, married Marvin “Shorty” Bernhardt.
Marlene Eitzen
Services for Marlene Eitzen, 86, who died Sunday at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, will be 10 a.m. Monday at Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church, rural Hillsboro. Pastor Darren Rempel will officiate. Interment will be at Ebenfeld Cemetery.
IN MEMORIAM:
Eleanor Silhan

PEOPLE

Volunteers are daily bread for senior center...
From preparing meals to delivering them across the community, volunteers keep Hillsboro Senior Center operating day to day. “Meals on wheels and just the help in the kitchen keep this place going for all of us,” board president Wanda Dush said.
...and help food bank balance its responsibility
Without volunteers, Marion County Food Bank would slow to a crawl. “It would be a long line of vehicles,” said Jane O’Connor. “It would take me 10, 15 minutes or more per car. Probably more like a half an hour if I had no volunteers.”
Former Mayor to show off memorabilia
FFA tabs Centre student
Plant swap planned
Residents can swap a wide range of house and garden plants and gardening items from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Marion City Library. Healthy plants, seeds, and cuttings will be welcome along with pots, garden tools, hoses, sprinklers, and other garden items in good condition.
Disability group at Tabor
Directors of Harvey-Marion County Developmental Disability Organization, who normally meet in Newton, will meet at 4 p.m. Monday in the Blue/Gold Room in the Student Center at Tabor College in Hillsboro.
Senior Center menus

FOR THE RECORD

OPINION

Making tax talk less taxing
Julius Caesar’s soothsayer got it wrong. It’s not the ides of March to beware. It’s the ides of April — today, April 15, income tax day. Nothing is more certain than death and taxes unless you also include tax misconceptions that politicians love to exploit.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
It's for the birds
AMERICA AT 250:
Democracy works best when rivals reconcile
LETTERS:
Peace, Oaths, Yet more No Kings
MEMORIES:
10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 110, 150 years ago

SPORTS

Marion boys win;girls 2nd at relays
Competing against 13 other schools, Marion’s boys won their annual relays event Friday, and Marion’s girls placed second. Peabody-Burns did not attend because of weather.
Marion girls are lone winners
Marion’s girls’ softball team was the county’s lone winner Friday, winning two junior-varsity games, 18-8 and 15-2, against Little River. Marion’s boys’ baseball team lost to Little River 3-0 and 6-5. In the second game, Ollie Norris scored two runs while Jameson Looper, Carson Krause, and Easton Babcock each scored one.
Shahan returning to Hillsboro
Originally from Hillsboro but moved to Moundridge for his senior year with his family, Easton Shahan has committed to make his return to Hillsboro, signing Monday with Tabor College. Eastons’ great-grandparents, Maralyn and Marvin Ratzlaff, both went to Tabor along with his grandma Cara Friesen and aunt and uncle Sean and Adri Bechtold.
Centre, Marion golfers win
For the second week in a row, Centre’s Easton Glessner has won a golf tournament. Glessner topped all golfers Friday with a score of 80 at the Hillsboro invitational, “The weather was miserable,” coach Kelly Whitley said. “misting rain, wind, and cold temps made it rough to play, and Easton had some tough holes.He didn’t do well the first three holes, but then he settled down and shot very well.”

MORE…

HOVER OVER IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT

A girl runs from one egg to the next, filling her basket Saturday morning at Marion City Library's Easter egg hunt.

At Veterans Memorial Park in Florence, a boy excitedly runs with two eggs the same color as his shirt, one egg in each hand, at a weekend Easter egg hunt.

Margo Yates has served Marion for three decades in many roles.

Kiersten Wildin catches an infield fly Thursday in Marion's game against Sterling.

PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

Battling school daze Greeters help kids start day By JUDD WEIL Staff writer Rain or shine, familiar faces help Marion Elementary students start their day on the right foot.

Marion is replacing nearly all of its water meters. Most of the city’s roughly 900 to 1,000 meters are 13 to 14 years old and have reached the end of their life expectancy, city administrator Brian Wells said.

It was the nightmare of everyone who gets up on a ladder. Hillsboro police had to help a man down from a roof Sunday after his ladder blew down, assistant chief Randy Brazil said.

A grant will help Lincolnville Fire Department put additional protective gear into service for volunteer firefighters. MFA Oil Foundation awarded $2,000 that will be paired with another grant to purchase personal protective equipment, or bunker gear, fire chief Lester Kaiser said.

Marion County commissioners moved through a light agenda Monday, approving routine items, making an appointment, and adopting proclamations with little discussion. They approved reappointing Daryl Enos to the 8th District Judicial Nominating Commission.

Services for Marlene Eitzen, 86, who died Sunday at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, will be 10 a.m. Monday at Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church, rural Hillsboro. Pastor Darren Rempel will officiate. Interment will be at Ebenfeld Cemetery.

IN MEMORIAM:

From preparing meals to delivering them across the community, volunteers keep Hillsboro Senior Center operating day to day. “Meals on wheels and just the help in the kitchen keep this place going for all of us,” board president Wanda Dush said.

Without volunteers, Marion County Food Bank would slow to a crawl. “It would be a long line of vehicles,” said Jane O’Connor. “It would take me 10, 15 minutes or more per car. Probably more like a half an hour if I had no volunteers.”

Residents can swap a wide range of house and garden plants and gardening items from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Marion City Library. Healthy plants, seeds, and cuttings will be welcome along with pots, garden tools, hoses, sprinklers, and other garden items in good condition.

Directors of Harvey-Marion County Developmental Disability Organization, who normally meet in Newton, will meet at 4 p.m. Monday in the Blue/Gold Room in the Student Center at Tabor College in Hillsboro.

Julius Caesar’s soothsayer got it wrong. It’s not the ides of March to beware. It’s the ides of April — today, April 15, income tax day. Nothing is more certain than death and taxes unless you also include tax misconceptions that politicians love to exploit.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

AMERICA AT 250:

LETTERS:

MEMORIES:

Competing against 13 other schools, Marion’s boys won their annual relays event Friday, and Marion’s girls placed second. Peabody-Burns did not attend because of weather.