PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

HEADLINES

Danger and blight with no end in sight
A home in the 300 block of N. Pine St. is causing issues for Peabody police chief Bruce Burke, which he described to Peabody City Council at their meeting Monday evening. “I was denied access to that property both for vehicles and health and safety violations,” Burke said. “I talked it over with the prosecutor and judge at the last court session and they have given me a direction to go on this.
Young Peabody woman dies in car crash
Leaving two children and a husband behind, Peabody resident Alycia M. Decker, 30, died Friday as the result of injuries she sustained in an accident that occurred because of “unknown reasons.” Decker started as nutrition services director for Opaa Food Management at Peabody schools at the beginning of the school year.
Economic development group to get funding
A countywide economic development committee won the formal support of county commissioners, who approved $825,000 over five years for a proposed economic development corporation operating under an independent countywide board. The funding commitment will begin with the 2018 budget year.
Warehouse sale puts childhood door back in woman's possession
For some, photographs are a great way to remember their childhood. For Peabody resident Sharon Pickens, her childhood memory was a door, which she was reunited with over the weekend.
Marion stalls Straub's deal
Reluctance at giving up a potential commercial economic asset was reason enough Monday for a divided Marion city council to delay the county’s proposed purchase of the former Straub International dealership by sending its rezoning request back to the planning board for a new hearing. After an hour-long deliberation made tedious by repeated requests for clarifications from attorney Joshua Boehm about convoluted regulations and resolutions, council members failed to come up with four votes to override a landowners petition and approve the change to governmental use. Mayor Todd Heitschmidt and council member Jerry Klein voted against approval.
Newspaper equals 25-award record
Hoch Publishing Company, publisher of the Marion County Record, Hillsboro Star-Journal, and Peabody Gazette-Bulletin,had another banner year in the Kansas Press Association 2016 Awards of Excellence competition, equaling last year’s record haul of 25 awards. “Most gratifying of all was to reclaim the award for overall news and writing excellence,” news editor David Colburn said. “Our staff works hard every week to report news that matters, features that entertain and inspire, content that engages thought, touches feelings, and paints the stories of life in Marion County. Everything counts, and everyone here shares in the honor.”
Thouvenells make initial court appearances
A Marion man charged with 12 counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child younger than 14, and his wife, charged with three counts of aggravated intimidation of a witness, made their first appearances Monday in Marion County District Court. Jerry Thouvenell, 56, appeared with his lawyer, David Phillip Leon, of Wichita.

DEATHS

Mary Ann Ecker
Mary Ann Ecker, 77, of Wichita, died Feb. 22 in Wichita. Mary was born Sept. 23, 1939, to June and Betty Herzet in Florence.
IN MEMORIAM:
H. Milford Ediger

DOCKET

FINANCE

Things Marion County's mystery millionaire might consider
Even the manager of the Hillsboro store that sold a winning $1 million lottery ticket doesn’t know the identity of the winner, who wished to remain anonymous after claiming his prize Thursday in Topeka. “We probably sold at least 1,000 tickets,” Casey’s manager Sarah Irvin said. “It’s like that at every Casey’s.
Being energy-smart saves money all year
Although taking steps to lower energy costs can sometimes prove expensive, there are things one can do to cut the cost of utilities. Peabody city treasurer Jonna Munson said a couple of common culprits behind increased water bills are easy to figure out.
Everyday changes can bring finances under control
Living beyond one’s means can result in an assortment of problems, from being unable to get a loan to being denied a rental contract. The first sign of a problem can be having too much month left at the end of your money, Don Noller, president of Marion National Bank, said.
Client organization helps tax preparers
Ken Koslowsky has been involved in accounting ever since he graduated from Tabor College with a degree in business administration in 1959. He began processing income tax returns in 1980 and has been at it ever since. The 70-year-old tax preparer works full-time including evenings during tax season. He said his workload has grown every year, and he can still take on new clients.

OPINION

And we're paying for what?
Last week, county commission chairman Randy Dallke asked an $825,000 question, and the answer is one all county taxpayers should be looking for. $825,000 is what the commission’s economic development task force wants as a 5-year financial commitment from the county for its proposed Marion County Community Economic Development Corporation.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
The hunt is on

PEOPLE

Fifth annual Ladies Fair helps promote local businesses
Over the weekend, women from as far as Wichita flocked to the Marion County Ladies Fair at Marion County Park and Lake Hall to shop, dine, and chat. “This is the fifth year we’ve had it, and the vendors that display are at home businesses,” economic development director Teresa Huffman said. “Independent distributors and those types. Ones that people don’t normally promote.”
Filming the graces of life
When Makenzie Deines rented her first video camera from Kansas State University, she thought capturing beautiful moments in video would be a great hobby. But it didn’t take long before it turned into more. After she videotaped several weddings, her mother suggested she turn the hobby into a business.
Couple to share experiences in China
Jeremy and Krista Matlock, associate pastors at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, will speak about their time serving in China at Friday’s Lifelong Learning. The program will begin at 9:45 a.m. Friday in the Wohlgemuth building on the Tabor campus.
Genealogy seminar to be March 11
Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies will conduct a genealogy seminar at 10 a.m. March 11 in the library conference room at Tabor College. The seminar will be a repeat of content explored in a fall workshop, “Deciphering Old German Text and Hand-written Script,” and will be presented by Steve Fast.
Senior center menu

SCHOOL AND SPORTS

Substate losses close out PBHS hoops
Wins were tough to come by for Peabody-Burns basketball teams this season, and none were to be found Friday at Chase County or in substate tournament play at Goessel. Trying to bounce back from a 53-15 loss to Chase County, the Lady Warriors squared off Monday against league foe Centre at Goessel.
Free child development screening set
Free developmental screening for children, birth through 5 years or age, will be from 3 to 5:30 p.m. March 14 in Marion. Development of cognitive, motor, speech/language and social/emotional areas will be checked. Vision and hearing also will be screened. The process usually takes at least one hour.
Tabor College choir to perform pre-tour concerts
Tabor College concert choir will perform two pre-tour concerts on March 12. The first will be at 10:30 a.m. at Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro, followed by a second at 7 p.m. at Zoar Mennonite Brethren Church in Inman.
Area school menus

UPCOMING EVENTS

Calendar of events
Fitness program to 'pump it up' March 19
Signups are being accepted at the county extension office for an eight-week fitness program in which teams of six document their minutes spent walking, biking, exercising, or playing sports weekly from March 19 and May 13. Registration for the program, called Walk Kansas, costs $8 and offers various challenge levels equivalent to walking across or around the state.
Attorney general to be in Marion
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt will be in Marion on Monday for informal coffee and conversation from 9 to 9:45 a.m. at Lanning Pharmacy. His visit is in conjunction with Consumer Protection Week. Later that day, he will visit Hutchinson and Newton for free document destruction.
Shared reading discussion planned
“Hillbilly Elegy,” featured since Feb. 2 in Marion City Library’s “one book, one community” program, will be discussed at 7 p.m. Monday at the library. The book humorously chronicles the journey of author J.D. Vance’s family from poverty, abuse, and alcoholism in Kentucky to upward mobility in Ohio.
Library plans quilt show
More than 30 quilts, wall hangings, and table runners will be on display starting Monday at Marion City Library. The library’s 14th annual quilt show will continue during regular library hours through March 18.
String band to perform
Area string band Tallgrass Express will perform “authentic Flint Hills music” at its second annual Spring Green concert at 2 p.m. March 12 at Prairie PastTimes, an arts and crafts cooperative at 220½ Broadway, Cottonwood Falls. Admission will be free, but donations will be solicited.

PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

A countywide economic development committee won the formal support of county commissioners, who approved $825,000 over five years for a proposed economic development corporation operating under an independent countywide board. The funding commitment will begin with the 2018 budget year.

For some, photographs are a great way to remember their childhood. For Peabody resident Sharon Pickens, her childhood memory was a door, which she was reunited with over the weekend.

Mary Ann Ecker, 77, of Wichita, died Feb. 22 in Wichita. Mary was born Sept. 23, 1939, to June and Betty Herzet in Florence.

IN MEMORIAM:

Although taking steps to lower energy costs can sometimes prove expensive, there are things one can do to cut the cost of utilities. Peabody city treasurer Jonna Munson said a couple of common culprits behind increased water bills are easy to figure out.

Living beyond one’s means can result in an assortment of problems, from being unable to get a loan to being denied a rental contract. The first sign of a problem can be having too much month left at the end of your money, Don Noller, president of Marion National Bank, said.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

Jeremy and Krista Matlock, associate pastors at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, will speak about their time serving in China at Friday’s Lifelong Learning. The program will begin at 9:45 a.m. Friday in the Wohlgemuth building on the Tabor campus.

Wins were tough to come by for Peabody-Burns basketball teams this season, and none were to be found Friday at Chase County or in substate tournament play at Goessel. Trying to bounce back from a 53-15 loss to Chase County, the Lady Warriors squared off Monday against league foe Centre at Goessel.

Tabor College concert choir will perform two pre-tour concerts on March 12. The first will be at 10:30 a.m. at Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro, followed by a second at 7 p.m. at Zoar Mennonite Brethren Church in Inman.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt will be in Marion on Monday for informal coffee and conversation from 9 to 9:45 a.m. at Lanning Pharmacy. His visit is in conjunction with Consumer Protection Week. Later that day, he will visit Hutchinson and Newton for free document destruction.

More than 30 quilts, wall hangings, and table runners will be on display starting Monday at Marion City Library. The library’s 14th annual quilt show will continue during regular library hours through March 18.

Area string band Tallgrass Express will perform “authentic Flint Hills music” at its second annual Spring Green concert at 2 p.m. March 12 at Prairie PastTimes, an arts and crafts cooperative at 220½ Broadway, Cottonwood Falls. Admission will be free, but donations will be solicited.