Marion County RECORD

Kapaun museum plans security improvements

Eugene Kapaun was always adamant that if his brother, Father Emil Kapaun, was ever awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in the Korean War, the medal should go to Pilsen, Kapaun tour guide Rose Mary Neuwirth said. Eugene didn’t live to see the day, but on Thursday, the president will present the highest military award for valor to Ray Kapaun, Father Kapaun’s nephew. Neuwirth said the family agrees with Eugene’s belief that the medal should go to Pilsen, where Father Kapaun grew up and served as a priest.

Pilsen Catholics to attend Medal of Honor presentation

At least seven members of St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church at Pilsen will be present Thursday at the White House when President Barack Obama confers the Medal of Honor posthumously on Father Emil Kapaun. They are Bob and Carol Makovec, Bob and Rose Mary Neuwirth, Laverne and Harriet Bina, and Carole Sklenar. They will travel to the Pentagon the next day for a ceremony in which Father Kapaun will be inducted into the Army Hall of Fame.

Canvass results show city, school election winners

Ron Goodwin won City of Burns Mayor as a write-in candidate with 28 votes, beating Patricia Nystrom with 19 votes. City of Burns Council positions went to Roland Boesker, 30, and Mary Glenn, 26. Daniel S. Huls II received 17 votes. Michael Sorensen won the City of Durham Mayor election with 16 votes as a write-in. Dorene Joy also received 2 write-in votes. The five City of Durham council positions went to R. Gene Duke, 19, Edward Flaming, 19, Gary Gerringer, 14, Verlin Sommerfeld, 21, and Gary D. Unruh, 19. Kenneth Giesbrecht, Tom Harm, and Arnold Sommerfeld each received one write-in vote. Gaylen Youk received five.

Bank buys hardware store on auction

Cottonwood Valley Bank was the only bidder at a sheriff’s auction Thursday for property at 1228 Commercial Drive, Marion — the former Seacat Hardware store. The bank was the mortgage holder on the property. Clearing that hurdle moves the property closer to reopening as a hardware store. Bank president Barry Linnens said he has three potential buyers for the building.

Teacher objects to book in library

A substitute teacher has questioned the presence of a book in the Marion High School library because of content she finds objectionable. Linda Kroupa met with the school board Monday and told them that a middle school student told her about

Defendant takes deal in Tabor student death

One of the two former McPherson College football players charged in the September murder of Tabor College student and football player Brandon L. Brown has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. DeQuinte O. Flournoy of Dallas was originally charged with aiding and abetting murder in the second degree. The charge was changed to aiding and abetting aggravated battery in accordance with the plea agreement on April 2. Flournoy pleaded no contest and was found guilty.

Big Scoop owners plan to reopen

Big Scoop owner Rusty Stenseng said the plan for the restaurant is still the same — rebuild and reopen. The owners are waiting for their insurance — United Fire and Casualty — to make a ruling on their claim after a fire on March 3. Stenseng said demolition of the building is necessary with the fire, water, or smoke damaging every item in the interior of the restaurant.

Debra D. Brewer

PEABODY — Debra D. Brewer, 54, passed away at her home on April 6, 2013. She was born May 2, 1958 the daughter Wallace “Vic” and Betty (Newton) Seibel. Debra worked as a housekeeper at Westview Nursing Home. On July 17, 1976 Debra married Bruce Brewer in Peabody, Kan. — he survives of the home. Other survivors include two daughters, Melissa and husband David Coleman of Topeka, Kan., and Shandy Lett of Newton, Kan.; her mother, Betty Seibel of Peabody, Kan.; three grandchildren, Breanna Lett, Brenton Lett, and Malicai Coleman; two brothers, David and wife Deb Seibel of Des Moines, Iowa, and Rick and wife Sharla Seibel of Amarillo, Texas; two sisters, Judy Eskridge of Valley Center, Kan., and Patricia and husband Gary Hall of Wichita, Kan.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ella Heideman

Ella Anna Heidemann, 97, of Decatur, Ill., died March 20 at Fair Havens Christian Home, Decatur, Ill. Ella was born Nov. 29, 1915, in Tampa to John and Helena (Ottensmeier) Backhus. She married Arthur Frederick Heidemann on Nov. 9, 1941, in Tampa. He preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her parents, one sister, and five brothers.

Dorothy Elnora (Waner) Hoffman

MARION — Dorothy Elnora (Waner) Hoffman, 82, passed away April 1, 2013, at St. Luke Hospital in Marion, Kan. She was born in Florence, Kan., on April 28, 1930, the daughter of Andy M. and Frances (Garrison) Waner. On Jan. 2, 1950, she was united in marriage to Roger Hoffman from Hancock, Maryland.

Edith Price

Edith I. Price, 96, of Dodge City died April 3 at Alterra Sterling House in Dodge City. She was born May 12, 1916, in Marion to Ora Earnest and Lillian (Baxter) Evans. She lived in Marion until moving to Manhattan in 1920, then she moved to Dodge City in 1929. She graduated from Dodge City High School. She was activities director at Dodge City Recreational Center for 15 years.

Ruby Schroeder

Ruby K. Schroeder, 85, of Hillsboro died April 3 at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro. She was born Aug. 21, 1927, to John and Katherine (Jantz) Prieb in Inola, Okla. She owned and operated the florist in Hillsboro.

Margaret E. Wigington

Margaret E. Wigington, age 81, of Upper Arlington, Ohio, died Tuesday, April 2, 2013, at Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. She was born Sept. 10, 1931, in Marion, Kan., daughter of the late Frank E. and Eldena (Williamson) Willey. A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Margaret will be dearly missed by her husband of 61 years, Ronald L.; her children, Carol (Michael) Lauber, David (Patricia) Wigington and Brian (Yvonne) Wigington; her beloved grandchildren, Steve, Melinda, Christina, Tiffany, Shannon, Caitlin, Zachary, Breanna, Taylor, Jordan, Ashleigh, Gabriel and Isaac; other relatives and many friends.

Accidents

Civil cases

County jail

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Deeds

Emergency dispatches

Hillsboro police

Marriage licenses

Offenses

Peabody police

Traffic cases

Foal gets attention

Orphaned foals are no picnic to care for, but when Ashley Weems, a Peabody-Burns High School senior, learned about a situation where a newborn colt needed help she did not hesitate to act. “The person who owned this baby’s mother has some medical issues and couldn’t care for him,” Weems said. “I have a lot of experience with horses and have raised a foal with its mama. I thought this would be good experience for me because some day I want to be an equine vet.”

Farmers' Market starts May 1

Marion Farmers’ Market will start May 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. in Central Park. There will be markets on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon. Organizer Shana Thornhill is one of three regulars at the market. The other two are N.M. Patton of Peabody and Darlene Carlson of Lincolnville. Patton provides vegetables while Carlson sells vegetables, herbs, canned goods, and flowers. Thornhill also offers tips to prepare vegetables and other organic foods for meals.

Mindset makes farm transition successful

Brandon Kaufman, a rural Moundridge native and former Wichita Wild arena football player enjoys completing a task. The chemistry major and Bethel College graduate likes to look at situations from different perspectives and he has never been afraid of hard work. When Lloyd Voth met Kaufman a year ago, he knew he had finally found a man with the right mindset to help him manage Voth Farms, rural Goessel. What Voth did not realize at the time, was how well things would fall into place, securing the viability of his multi-generational farm and providing a rare opportunity for a young farm family to get a good start.

Meat packaging changes are coming

Britin Fraiser wanted to make beef stroganoff for dinner, but there was just one problem: he couldn’t find beef tips at the grocery store. “I couldn’t find any,” the 86-year-old Hillsboro resident said. “I was about ready to give up and then I asked the guy standing next to me if he saw any, and he picked a package up right away. I could have sunk right into the floor — so embarrassing. I was looking for the package to say beef tips, not sirloin tips.”

Field day is April 18

The Kansas Forest Service will host a landowner field day starting at 3 p.m. April 18 in Durham. The goal is to help landowners successfully manage woodlands, areas next to streams and rivers, and habitat for Bobwhite quail. Participants will meet at Durham Community Center, 519 Douglas Ave. They will travel as a group to the Marion Reservoir wildlife area to visit sites where woodland improvements have been done. They will learn techniques to improve log quality, enhance tree growth and herbicide use .

USDA Report: wheat stays the same

The USDA Crop Progress report shows that winter wheat condition is staying the same, but there are some signs of small improvement. About 30 percent of the crop is still rated poor to very poor as it was last week, but 31 percent is now rated “good” versus 29 percent the week before. Projections indicate that the winter wheat crop will still have a long way to go to get even close to where it was this time last year. Additional snow and rainstorms in Kansas could help in some areas. Meanwhile, farmers are playing a waiting game to see the outcome of their crop.

State moves ag department to Manhattan

Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Dale Rodman recently announced that the Kansas Department of Agriculture would move the majority of its offices to Manhattan in summer 2014. Rodman said the move will allow the agency to capitalize on synergies with Kansas State University as well as other agricultural and bio-science entities located in Manhattan.

Fourth generation farmer likes challenge

It has often been said that farming is a gamble. You put something in and hope to get more back, but you’re never sure how it will turn out. For 41-year-old Scott David of rural Tampa, that’s what makes life interesting.

Preserving a history of heroism

A story that recently appeared in a newspaper insinuated that Pilsen is too rinky-dink of a community to be the home of historical artifacts related to Father Emil Kapaun, the heroic Army chaplain who died protecting and serving his fellow prisoners of war in the Korean War and who is being honored Thursday with the posthumous presentation of the Medal of Honor — not to mention his candidacy for sainthood. Isn’t it possible that Kapaun’s upbringing in a small community contributed to his strength of character? Perhaps he looked out for his fellow soldiers because he had grown up seeing people look out for their neighbors? Pilsen is the appropriate home for Kapaun’s Medal of Honor.

History obscured by a cloud of dust

Marion County and Pilsen are home to a special piece of history, and we shouldn’t hide that piece of history behind a cloud of dust. For drivers who know the Pilsen road like the back of their hands, the gravel surface ranges mostly from an annoyance to a nuisance, increasing driving times, requiring more car washes, and more windshield repairs. For visitors unfamiliar with the road and its curves, though, blinding dust clouds represent a very real danger, and those drivers become a danger to the regulars on the road. Make no mistake, these visitors are already coming, and they will increase in numbers with Father Emil Kapaun’s receipt of the Medal of Honor on Thursday and the continued investigation into his likely sainthood.

LETTERS:

Harvey House sets open hours

Florence Harvey House will be open from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday afternoons through October. For more information or to make reservations, call (620) 878-4296.

Cookoff set to benefit city park

Volunteers are preparing a macaroni and cheese cookoff to raise awareness and funds for improvements to Central Park. The cookoff will be from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 27 in the Marion Community Center. Organizer Jeanice Thomas said she doesn’t expect the event to bring in big bucks. The main goal is to highlight the importance of the park and encourage people to donate to the project, which includes construction of new bathrooms.

Kiwanis 90th birthday is April 18

Marion Kiwanis Club will have its 90th anniversary banquet on April 18. The banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Marion Community Center. The doors will open at 6 p.m. At the Tuesday meeting with 23 people present, Jeremiah Lange gave a presentation about Café Justo, a “fair trade-plus” coffee cooperative in Mexico. Fair trade-plus means that it pays growers a price they can live on and gives the growers the control over the process.

Police dog gets bulletproof vest

Marion Police department will receive a bulletproof and stab-proof vest for its police dog. The department applied to the Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Massachusetts, to receive a vest worth $950 with a five-year warranty. After applying in early March, Police Chief Tyler Mermis said he expects to receive a vest for Ana by July or August.

Pool will be closed for several weeks

The pool at the USD 408 Sports and Aquatics Center will be closed for two to three weeks beginning Monday for repainting and repairs.

Club enjoys spring theme

The 20th Century Club met at Zimmerman’s on April 1 for a meal of salad and sandwich wraps. The tables were decorated with a spring theme including potted flowers and seed packets. Hostesses were Sally Hannaford, Feebie Holdeman, and Karen Regnier. Paula Barta gave a presentation on pottery.

Neo-Century Club meets

Fourteen members attended the April 1 meeting of the Neo-Century Club at Hilltop Manor. Earlene Magathan served as hostess. Members participated in the program, “Our Own Forensics.”

Country lunch enjoyed by P.E.O.

Marge Summervill’s home was the setting for the April 1 meeting of P.E.O Chapter DB. Judy Mills, Eileen Sieger, and Summervill served a country lunch to 19 members. The newly elected officers who presided at the meeting were president Pam Bowers, vice president Judy Reno, recording secretary Marlene Utech, corresponding secretary Margaret Pickering, treasurer Lois Smith, chaplain Arlene Bowers, alternate chaplain Lenore Dieter, and guard Jackie Volbrecht. Pickering will serve as a delegate to the state convention.

Chat and Dine to have potluck on Saturday

Marion County Park and Lake Chat and Dine Club will have its first potluck dinner of 2013 at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the lake hall. The meeting will include planning activities for the year.

MHS boys's emsemble a hit

The Marion High School boys’ ensemble sang at the center on April 3 and were a big hit. Director Dave Clark claimed they were the best boys’ ensemble of his career. Shirley Moore celebrated her birthday April 1 with dishes of ice cream and chocolate syrup.

CDDO to meet Monday

The regular monthly meeting of the board of directors of Harvey-Marion County Community Development Disability Organization will be at 4 p.m. Monday at office headquarters, 500 N. Main, Suite 204, Newton. There will be opportunity for public forum.

CORRESPONDENTS:

MEMORIES:

MHS senior wins best in show with art

Marion High School senior Logan Maytum won best in show at the Heart of America League Art Festival April 3 at Ell Saline. Maytum’s acrylic painting, a close up of a husky’s eyes, was named the best painting among about 400 pieces.

Fruechting qualifies for FBLA nationals

Marion High School senior Jennifer Fruechting placed third in the personal finance competition at the state Future Business Leaders of America conference. In doing so, she qualified to compete at the national conference in June in Anaheim, Calif.

Teacher brings ocean to students

Not every hand rose when Marion Elementary second grade teacher Ginger Becker asked students Friday if they had ever been to the ocean, but every child got a chance to see ocean creatures, inside and out, by the time she was done with a special dissecting session on the school’s back patio. “We are doing this all in the name of science,” Becker said. “I don’t want to hear any ‘ewws’ or ‘yuck’, this is all very interesting stuff, and you all will have a chance to see everything.”

Music students headed for state

A large number of Marion High School music students received I ratings Saturday at the regional music festival at Tabor College. They will compete in the state music festival April 27 at Southeast of Saline High School. Receiving I ratings were vocal soloists Jennifer Fruechting, Isaac Baldwin, Nick Meyer, John Lind, Adam Kjellin, and Shyla Harris; flute soloist Reann Hamm; girls’ ensemble; boys’ ensemble; and Marion Singers.

12 Centre students qualify for FBLA nationals

A record number of 12 Centre High School Future Business Leaders of America members have qualified for national competition. Competing against schools 1A to 6A Thursday and Friday at the State Leadership Conference in Topeka, they placed in the top three to go on to national competition in Anaheim, Calif. on June 26 to July 1. The parliamentary procedures team of Nellie Kassebaum, Carrie Carlson, Bryanna Svoboda, Makenzie Deines, and Tom Oborny placed first.

7th-grade scholars 2nd in league

The Marion Middle School seventh-grade scholars bowl team posted a 6-3 record to place second in the Heart of America League meet April 2 at Bennington. The Wildcats defeated Trinity Catholic of Hutchinson, 60-30, Remington, 80-20, Berean Academy, 50-40, Sedgwick, 80-30, Canton-Galva, 30-10, and Ell-Saline, 60-30. They lost to Inman, 60-50, Bennington, 50-40, and Moundridge, 70-30.

Regular TEEN meeting is Tuesday

The Technology Excellence in Education Network will hold its regular board meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday via phone conference with the call originating from the Hillsboro district office. For questions or more information, contact Brandi Hendrix at (620) 877-0237.

Elementary students prepare for concerts

Marion Elementary students in kindergarten, first-, and second- grade will be performing a concert 7 p.m. April 16 in the USD 408 Performing Arts Center. Anita Hancock is the music director. There will also be a student recital 3 p.m. April 20 in the performing arts building.

Dyslexia is co-op priority

Kansas Senate Bill 44 was killed in committee back in February. The bill’s purpose was to have school districts pay an outside health provider to diagnose dyslexia. Marion County Special Education Cooperative Director David Sheppard was glad to see the bill deceased; it would have made life harder on special education and Marion County school districts. He was sure the bill was unnecessary any way.

Warriors grind out 2 victories

When Marion baseball coach Roger Schroeder looked at his team’s schedule and saw Little River and Moundridge in the same week, he knew the Warriors would have a tough week that would require grinding out some games. The Warriors did just that, sweeping Little River in a tight doubleheader before taking on Moundridge in the only Friday home series of the season.

Broken bat, hustle lead to girls' win

Her teammates call her TOBs — “The Other Bailey” — to distinguish her from senior center fielder Balee Shiplet, but it isn’t because freshman left fielder Bailey Robson is an afterthought on the Marion softball team. Robson certainly had a memorable game in the first half of a doubleheader against Moundridge on Friday, driving in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Montana Percell had tied the game at 5, scoring from third on a passed ball earlier in the inning. With Kayla Kroupa on third with two outs, Robson broke her bat on a ground ball.

Boys win Marion Relays

The Marion girls placed second out of 11 teams Friday in the Marion Relays, while the boys went on a victory lap after it was announced that they had defeated McPherson for the meet championship. The Warriors once again benefited from the strength, literal and figurative, of their throwers. Marion had the top three finishers in boys’ discus as Nick Meyer threw 139-6; Kyle Palic, 136-4; Morgan Wheeler, 136-0; and Spencer Fugitt, 128-03. Meyer also won the shot put with a throw of 44-11¼, and Wheeler placed third at 43-2½. Palic was third in the javelin with a throw of 142-9. Corey Shields was second in the girls’ discus at 103-10.

Centre tracksters place at Hillsboro Quad

Several members of the Centre High School track team placed in the top two April 2 at the Hillsboro Central Kansas Track League Quad meet that included Hesston and Goessel. First-place finishers included Justin Deines, javelin; Ty Simons, high hurdles and intermediate hurdles; Anna Weber, long jump; Cassidy Hill, javelin; and the 4x100 relay team of Grant Srajer, Deines, Conner Montgomery, and Houston Svoboda.

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