Marion County RECORD

Clerk fixes ballot mistake

Marion County Clerk Carol Maggard and her staff scrambled to fix a mistake on ballots for the Nov. 6 election. About 400 early voters had filled out incomplete ballots because Marion County’s ballots did not include questions about retaining two Eighth Judicial District Judges — Michael F. Powers and Maritza Segarra. It was Powers — not one of the voters — who brought the error to Maggard’s attention on Oct. 24. At first, Powers did not realize he had not been mailed information candidates receive when they appear on a ballot.

Aspiring farmer killed in crash

Konley Harding, 21, of Burdick, was killed at about midnight Oct. 27 when he was struck by a vehicle on U.S. 24 while walking about two miles east of Manhattan. Why he was walking on the highway is unclear. Witnesses told Pottawatomie County sheriff’s officers that they observed an eastbound white vehicle run over Harding and continue eastward.

Election is Tuesday

The 2012 general election is Tuesday, with township, county, state, and federal offices on the ballot. Poll hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Registered voters are required to have a photo identification to vote. Select Poll sites

Emmanuel Baptist Church, 229 N. Walnut St., Marion — north Marion city, north Centre Township, south Grant Township, Gale Township, and part of south Centre Township.

Florence Masonic Center, 421 Main St., Florence — Florence city, Doyle Township, and part of Fairplay Township.

Lincolnville Community Center, 213 W. 6th St., Lincolnville — Lincolnville and Lost Springs cities and Clark, Clear Creek, and Lost Springs townships.

Our Savior Lutheran Church, 320 S. Cedar St., Marion — south Marion city, Wilson Township, and part of south Centre Township.

Tampa Senior Center, 100 Main St., Tampa — Durham, Ramona, and Tampa cities and Blaine, Colfax, Durham Park, Logan, and Moore townships.

United Methodist Church, 905 E. D St., Hillsboro — east Hillsboro city and Liberty Township.

PrairieLand donates 1.2 tons of food

PrairieLand Partners in Marion donated two pallets of food — one completely filled with canned vegetables and the other with items like sugar and flour — to the Marion County Emergency Food Bank on Monday. The amount equaled 2,460 pounds of food. The companies employees contributed more than $1,000 to buy all of the food. PrairieLand Partners was competing with the nine other stores in Kansas — McPherson, Emporia, Hutchinson, Wichita, Andale, Kingman, Anthony, and Winfield — to see which office could donate the most pounds of food.

Fire cause for neighbor's concern

A field fire five miles north of Peabody on Monday afternoon burned close to 100 acres of soybeans and wheat-stubble, and threatened some abandoned outbuildings before fire crews from Peabody and Hillsboro got it under control. “My neighbor Rodney Suderman called me about it, and when I came over the hill I was really worried,” said Neil Hett, Rock Shop owner and resident in the same section where the fire burned.

Flag retirement is Nov. 12

James William Miesse American Legion Post 22 of Marion will have a flag retirement ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at Marion County Park and Lake. Section 8 of the U.S. Flag Code says, “

Commission candidates share perspectives

Marion County Commission District 2 — covering the northeast portion of the county — is the only county-level contested race in the 2012 general election. Incumbent Republican Dan Holub faces a challenge from Independent Gary D. Lewis. Both candidates answered several questions about their vision for Marion County.

Jeannette D. Bentz

Jeannette D. Bentz, 48, Prairie Village, died Oct. 19 at Kansas City Hospice House following a battle with cancer. She was born July 3, 1964, in Hillsboro to Clinton and Elaine Young Bentz of Lincolnville.

Robert J. Bina

Robert J. “Bob” Bina, 61, died Sunday at his farm residence east of Lincolnville. He was born on Nov. 23, 1950, in Hillsboro to Frank and Lillian Moravec Bina of Lincolnville.

Clara Bredemeier

Clara Bredemeier, 105, of Marion passed away Oct. 27. Visitation is to be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Valley United Methodist Church, Marion. A full obituary will follow in a future edition.

Norma J. Cain

Norma J. (Drake) Cain, retired KG&E bookkeeper, passed away Oct. 26, 2012. She is survived by daughters Cathy Parker and Candice Hall, granddaughters Lori D. (Chapman, Parker) Robbins, Shannon N. (Parker) Krall, Rachael Zielke and Megan (Hall) Wheeler, and grandson Justin Hall, and nine great-grandchildren.

George H. Hardey

MARION — George H. Hardey, 77, passed away Oct. 23, 2012, at Mercy Hospital in Moundridge. He was born April 29, 1935, in Walters, Okla., the son of Grayson and Vivian Cloud Hardey. On Aug. 16, 1953, he was united in marriage to Earline Midgley. He was a retired dispatcher for the Santa Fe Railroad. He was active in the Isis Temple of the Shrine, and a 32nd Degree Mason. He was active in the Florence community and served several terms as mayor.

Konley Lowell Harding

Konley Lowell Harding, 21, of Manhattan, formerly of Burdick, Kan., passed away Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. He was born July 21, 1991 in Emporia, Kan., to Kelsey Leon and Lois Irene (Miser) Harding.

Elfrieda Franz Hiebert

Elfrieda Franz Hiebert, 90, of Belmont, Mass., passed away peacefully onSept. 2, 2012. Born onOct. 17, 1921,in Hillsboro, Kan., to Leonard J. and Helen Franz, Elfrieda showed early promise as a pianist, and throughout her life, she was involved in musical activities.Starting at age 13, she performed regularly as church organist on the foot-pressure harmonium at church services, weddings, and funerals for her local Mennonite Brethren church in Hillsboro. At age 17, she received the highest award in piano at the National Music Competition (Midwest Section) in Colorado Springs,Colo., in 1938.

Edmund Kroupa

Edmund Kroupa, a lifelong resident of Marion County, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012, at St. Luke Living Center in Marion. Edmund was born Oct. 27, 1923, on his parents’ farm southeast of Pilsen, the youngest of three sons of Joseph and Antonia Shramek Kroupa. He attended Beauty of the West School, Pilsen Grade School, then Marion High School, graduating with the Class of 1941.

Sylvia Dewey Muse

WICHITA — Sylvia Dewey Muse, 101, retired Director of Patient Relations, Wesley Medical Center, died Oct. 27, 2012. Sylvia was born Feb. 14, 1911, daughter of Henry and Harriet Grabill at Hesston, Kan. Her parents and five siblings preceded her in death.

Accidents reported

Civil cases

County jail

Criminal cases

Deeds

Emergency dispatches

Hillsboro police

Marriage licenses

Marion police

Peabody police

Traffic cases

Extra schooling worth the effort

Kelli Willis of Goessel is a full-time mother of three, works two jobs part-time, and somehow finds time to continue her education through classes online and at the Butler Community College Marion campus. “It’s very stressful and multiple times I wanted to quit,” Willis said. “But my kids understand and are all for me finishing college. I am doing this to better myself and for my family.”

Students can take free college courses

When Butler Community College planned a certified nursing assistant class at Marion High School, Butler of the Flint Hills Director Amy Kjellin was worried the cost of the class might prevent students from taking it. The five-credit-hour class would normally cost $483 plus the cost of a textbook, Kjellin said. But in a stroke of good fortune, circumstances allowed high school students to take the class for only $18 plus the cost of a textbook.

City raises open-records requests fees

The Marion City Council approved a resolution for city fees. The council voted 4-to-1 to charge 50 cents per page when records are requested plus a $5 fee per 15 minutes of work if research is required. The 50 cent per page fee was an increase from previous fees.

County hesitates on low bid for roof repair

It seemed too good to be true, like a trick. Marion County Commission read the bids for repair of the courthouse tower roof, inside and out, and one bid was about a third of the other two bids.

How do you handle criticism?

At the Marion Chamber of Commerce meeting Oct. 19, city council member and Marion Economic Development Inc. President Todd Heitschmidt presented the results of a discussion MEDI had about Marion’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. One of the weaknesses discussed was leadership. That certainly is an area where Marion, or any other community, could use improvement. There is so much that goes into leadership. It takes charisma, organizational ability, setting ambitious but reachable goals, and recognizing successes and acknowledging shortcomings.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

LETTERS:

EQIP sign-up ends Nov. 16

Nov. 16 is the cutoff date for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program applications in Kansas to be considered for fiscal year 2013 funding. EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to land owners and operators to install conservation practices on their land. It can be applied to cropland, rangeland, pastures, forestland, and wildlife habitat.

Police still probing youth center burglary

Peabody Police Chief Bruce Burke said Monday that he and his officers still are working on leads they have received in conjunction with the burglary Oct. 9 of the HUB youth center. “Information is still forthcoming,” he said. “As we continue to put the pieces together, leads have been developed. The investigation continues.”

Flint Hills RECA donates to 4-H

Flint Hills Rural Electric Cooperative of Council Grove has donated $2,000 to the Kansas 4-H Foundation in celebration of the “International Year of Cooperatives.” The cash donation will be divided between Marion, Chase, and Morris county 4-H Councils.

Florence to have hog roast

Everyone is invited to attend the first Florence community hog roast on Saturday. The event will be at the intersection of W. 5th and Marion streets in the lot next to Florence United Methodist Church. Live music will start at 3:30 p.m., and the free meal at 4 p.m. Children’s games are scheduled.

Church organizes Florence Thanksgiving

The annual Florence Community Thanksgiving will be at 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 10 in the Florentine building on Main Street. Residents are asked to bring a covered dish — vegetables, salad, or dessert. Turkey, dressing, and potatoes and gravy will be furnished. The event is sponsored by Florence United Methodist Church.

Tabor college to host joint band concert

Tabor College Symphonic Band and Garden City Community College Band will perform a joint concert at 7 p.m. Monday in the Tabor College Chapel. Tabor band director Daniel Baldwin said the consortium will play pieces by Leemans, Debussy, Tschesnokoff, Reed and Higdon, and other hymn tunes.

Marion VFW plans supper

In a change from past years, Marion VFW Post 6958 is moving its chili and soup event from lunchtime to suppertime this year. Chili, chicken noodle soup, vegetable beef soup, homemade bread, veggie trays, and desserts will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 11 at post headquarters.

Christian book author to speak at Tabor

Tabor College will host Phillip Yancey on Friday Nov. 9 for “Seasons of the Soul.” The lecture will be at 7:30 p.m. at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. Doors open at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Yancey is a best-selling author. Early in his career he wrote books such as “Disappointment with God” and “Where is God When it Hurts?” He also edited “The Student Bible.” He coauthored three books with surgeon Paul Brand.

Pests unwelcome but prevalent in fall

When the leaves fall from trees and cold wind begins to blow, common pests like mice, spiders, and crickets often try to make their way indoors. Nancy Pihl, Kansas State Research and Extension specialist in Marion has all the information readily available on how to control pests, but a little mouse still found a way into her house recently. “I have four cats so I couldn’t believe what I was finding,” Pihl said.

Brothers donate POW crafts to museum

When Bill and Charles Jacobs were growing up, two items in their home fascinated them. They loved to ask about them or get permission to play with them, because it usually led to hearing stories about the German prisoners of war that were housed in Peabody from 1943 to 1945. Their father, William Jacobs Sr., was a guard at the POW camp in the Eyestone building (now Heckendorn) at Second and Vine streets. The German prisoners their father guarded during World War II made the items that fascinated young Charles and Bill.

Marion couple travels to assist storm victims

Ralph and Phyllis Kreutziger of Marion informed family and friends by e-mail Monday that they are in Baltimore, Md., to assist victims of Hurricane Sandy. They planned to be working at a storm shelter at the University of Maryland until the storm passes.

Falconer presents Kiwanis program

Alan Pollard spoke to Marion Kiwanis Club members about his passion for raising and hunting with falcons Tuesday in Marion. Pollard brought three falcons to show, including a peregrine, a marlin, and a prairie falcon caught only a week ago.

Never too old to play with dolls

Mary Klenda did not have dolls to play with when she was growing up near Lost Springs. One of nine children, she had plenty of real-life babies to play with, but she remembers getting her first doll at age 13. Now she has a collection of 600 porcelain dolls at her home in Hillsboro. On Friday, she displayed 77 of them at the Hillsboro City Building. “A couple of ladies I work with here asked me to bring them,” Klenda said. “I’ve never done a public display before.”

Tampa game night is Saturday

Tampa PRIDE has scheduled a game night at 7 p.m. Sunday in the senior center. Organizers encourage guests to bring a snack to share. For more information, call (785) 965-2639.

Democratic committee to elect officers

A meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Big Scoop restaurant, 616 E. Main St., Marion, to organize the Marion County Democratic Central Committee. Officers will be elected. All Democrats and Democratic precinct committee people are invited to attend. Only the precinct people elected at the August primary election are eligible to vote.

Lifelong Learning to highlight flour sacks

Nancy Jo Leachman, Salina, will share her flour sack collection and tell about milling, art, and marketing at 9:45 a.m. Friday at the Lifelong Learning session in Hillsboro. The session will take place in the Wohlgemuth Music Education Center on the Tabor College campus. Leachman started collecting flour sacks about 13 years ago, attracted by their artwork and importance in U.S. history.

CORRESPONDENTS:

MEMORIES:

MHS musical is comedic fairytale

Marion High School will present a musical fairytale, “Once Upon a Mattress,” Nov. 9 through 11. The musical is based on “The Princess and the Pea.” “I knew the cast would like this and that it would be fun,” director Janet Killough said at rehearsal Monday. “And I thought the audience would like it.”

MHS posts state assessments improvement

A year after state assessment scores slipped, Marion High School posted its best year in state math and reading testing since No Child Left Behind was implemented in 2002, as well as the school’s biggest improvement in math scores in that time. The school had 96.7 percent of students meet or exceed standards on the state math assessment and 95.1 percent meet or exceed standards on the state reading assessment. The previous year’s results were 82.3 percent in math and 82.1 in reading.

MHS ACT scores below state average

The Marion High School graduating class of 2012 had an average score of 20.7 on the ACT college entrance exam — below the state average and below MHS 2011 scores. Average scores on individual subject areas were 21.0 in math, 20.8 in reading, 20.7 in science, and 19.9 in English. The Kansas averages for 2012 graduates were 21.8 math, 22.3 reading, 21.7 science, and 21.3 English, with a 21.9 composite score. MHS average scores for 2011 were 22.8 math, 22.1 reading, 22.2 science, and 21.4 English, with a 22.1 composite score.

Marion Middle School releases honor roll

Centre FFA packages food at convention

Fifteen Centre FFA members and advisers attended the 85th National FFA Convention and Expo from Oct. 23 through Saturday at Indianapolis, Ind. Members heard keynote addresses by Olympic figure skater and cancer survivor Scott Hamilton and spokesperson for the Indianapolis Colts Josh Bleill. They also attended student leadership workshops to sharpen their leadership and character skills.

Heerey inducted into honor society

Kayley Heerey, Marion, was one of 18 students inducted into the Kansas Wesleyan University Alpha Chi honor society on Oct. 28 in Salina. Only students from the top 10 percent of junior and senior classes are eligible for membership.

HHS to present 'Willy Wonka' musical

Hillsboro High School will present “Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka,” a musical adaptation of Dahl’s book, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” The story is perhaps better known from two film adaptations starring Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp as the candy tycoon Wonka. It will be director Lynn Just’s 20th musical at HHS. Just said she chose the musical because she considered it a good fit for the students she expected to be involved, and they haven’t disappointed her. Dylan Nelson stars as Charlie Bucket, and Daniel Nelson plays Wonka. Molly Wiebe and Graham Pankratz play Charlie’s parents, and Peyton Loewen, Danae Bina, Clay Ethridge, and Tanner Sechrist play his grandparents, all with strong comedic sensibilities, Just said. She also praised the students playing the other children who found “golden tickets” for a tour of Wonka’s factory.

Warriors push Wildcats around, 41-6

The Marion High School Warriors secured a spot in the 3A state football playoffs by defeating Moundridge, 41-6, on Thursday for a district record of 2-1. The Warriors did it by dominating the ground game on both sides of the ball. Marion rushed for 339 yards on 38 rushing attempts (8.9 yards per carry) while limiting Moundridge to 184 rushing yards on 47 rushing attempts (3.9 yards per carry). Several times in the first half, Marion stopped Moundridge on fourth-down attempts.

Marion cross-country takes 8th at state

Despite cold conditions Saturday at 3A state cross-country at Rim Rock Farm outside of Lawrence, Marion High School senior Jordan Hett improved his state time by 28 seconds from 2011. He ran the course in 16 minutes, 45 seconds after running it in 17:13 in 2011. But the improved time wasn’t enough to improve on last year’s third-place finish, as he received a sixth-place medal Saturday.

CHS football finishes district 3-3

The Centre High School Cougars put up a fight Thursday against Madison-Hamilton at home in football, but they were overcome by the power of the Bulldogs and lost, 54-8. With a record of 3-3 in district play, the team did not advance to the playoffs, and seniors Justin Deines, Houston Svoboda, Kendall Harding, Dylan Svitak, and Jerami Slayden, saw their last action as high school football players.

County teams dominate Wheat State League volleyball selections

When the Wheat State League announced its all-league volleyball team Tuesday, there was hardly any room left for players outside of Marion County. Goessel and Centre High Schools each placed six players on the first, second, and honorable mention teams, and Peabody-Burns High School had four players selected. Centre First team: senior Anna Weber. Second team: junior Cacey Simons. Honorable mention: seniors Genesis Rudolph and Ellie Miller, junior Bryanna Svoboda, and sophomore Brenna Shields. Goessel First team: seniors Tia Goertzen, Alex Hiebert, Jessica Harvey, and Johanna Hoffman and freshman Page Hiebert. Honorable mention: sophomore Erin Brubaker. Peabody-Burns First team: senior Paige Lewis. Second team: senior Rayna Barnes and freshman Katy Benson. Honorable mention: senior Brandee Burnett.

2 Warriors named all-league volleyball

The Heart of America League announced its all-league volleyball team Monday. Marion High School junior Katey Ehrlich was named to the second team and senior Briana Hall received honorable mention.

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