PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

HEADLINES

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.
As planting progresses, only costs are growing
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.
Battling school daze: Greeters help kids start day
Presbyterian Church pastor Jeremiah Lange, former interim police chief Zach Hudlin, and an assortment of other volunteers regularly greet students outside the school, offering high-fives, opening doors, and welcoming each child by name. Students enjoy the consistent interaction.
Battling school daze: Preschoolers have ball learning
The ongoing “ball study,” part of the program’s creative curriculum, blends physical activity with foundational academic concepts for students ages 3 and 4. The study gives students a chance to explore 3-D shapes while building early learning skills, Head Start teacher Lesli Beery said.
Rung up: 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.

OTHER NEWS

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.
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.
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.

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

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

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
Brady Idleman of Centre was elected at the South-Central FFA District banquet Monday to serve as district secretary for the 2026-’27 year. Of 242 FFA chapters in the state, 53 are in the south-central district. Marion and Centre received national chapter awards for completing 15 or more activities.
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
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.
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.”
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.

MORE…

HOVER OVER IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT

High-fives from Jeremiah Lange and Zach Hudlin start the day for a Marion Elementary student.

Head Start kids go full court with their ball study.

Brenda Coryea prepare meals while Crystal Loper (behind) cleans up at the Hillsboro Senior Center.

Marion's Caileigh Johnson won pole vault Friday.

PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

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.

Presbyterian Church pastor Jeremiah Lange, former interim police chief Zach Hudlin, and an assortment of other volunteers regularly greet students outside the school, offering high-fives, opening doors, and welcoming each child by name. Students enjoy the consistent interaction.

The ongoing “ball study,” part of the program’s creative curriculum, blends physical activity with foundational academic concepts for students ages 3 and 4. The study gives students a chance to explore 3-D shapes while building early learning skills, Head Start teacher Lesli Beery 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.

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.

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.

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:

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:

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.

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.