Marion County RECORD

BREAKING NEWS

UPDATED AFTER PRINT DEADLINE

Resurgent COVID closes school, bank; quarantines 22
COVID-19 came back with a vengeance Tuesday as classes for Marion’s pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade students were canceled, 14 students and 8 staff members were ordered quarantined, Central National Bank was forced to close its lobby, and the county tied a record with its largest two-day increase in cases. The school was closed after an employee was one of four new positive cases Monday. Five more were reported Tuesday, raising the county’s total number of cases to 119.

HEADLINES

Family crusades to get assistance dog for daughter
At 5, Briley Miller faces a life of challenges, but the task her parents intend to tackle right now is getting her a trained assistance dog. Briley, the daughter of Coty and Tori Miller, was diagnosed with autism at 3. She attends kindergarten at Marion Elementary School until 1 p.m., then goes home for daily sessions with an applied behavior analysis therapist who drives from Junction City to work with her.
Eitzen, wind farm call truce
Expedition Wind and Peabody farmer Randall Eitzen have called a truce in a legal battle that has cost the county $20,981.94 in legal bills over a year and a half. County clerk Tina Spencer said additional bills are expected as a result of the legal battle over development of a wind farm in the county.
Yields great, but price dampens good news
As Alan Vogel drove his green combine through the ripened fields of corn he couldn’t help but smile. “I could have this every year,” he said as fat kernels fell into a waiting truck.
COVID cases notching up; Tabor recovering
A male in his 30s and two females in their 40s and 60s with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases are the latest of 106 cases in Marion County. The three were placed in isolation.
Late rescuers turned away by 2 hospitals
County ambulance crews were spread thin Sunday with several units requested to Peabody, Goessel, and Ramona. The direst call might have been for a code red 89-year-old stroke victim in Ramona. Ambulances were called from Marion and Tampa, but Tampa took 20 minutes to arrive, and Marion ambulance 23 minutes.
Man converts bedroom into Harry Potter shrine
Don Wedd is no “muggle.” The Peabody man’s collection of Harry Potter memorabilia that has overtaken a spare bedroom would be the envy of many die hard Potterheads.

OTHER NEWS

A chicken deal? Chain to provide grub at game
Marion sporting events have seen many changes in recent months but High school principal Donald Raymer hopes to make a positive one by serving 575 Chic-fil-A meals at Friday’s homecoming as concessions. “It’s nothing against anything local,” he said. “It’s available, it’s an opportunity, and they sell them to us for a little bit of a discount so we can make a bit of money for our basketball teams.”
Machine to make repairs easier
After months of stopgap measures to minimize water valve issues and trying to work with dysfunctional machinery, Peabody public works superintendent Lucas Larsen will get an electronic valve exerciser to lighten his load. Valves normally are open to allow for water flow, but they have to be shut and reopened occasionally to stay in good condition, Larsen said.
Ambulance sent to school for odd call
County EMS director Travis Parmley received a first-time request last week when a Peabody ambulance was called to provide assistance at Peabody-Burns High School for an out-of-control teenager. He had never been in such a situation but said there was no reason for the crew to refuse responding, either.
Peabody seeking new logo design
Peabody will be taking contest entries for an updated city logo, and councilman Lindsay Hutchison is wasting no time getting the ball rolling. Entries are due by Dec. 15 to be approved by the council Dec. 28, and the new logo will be rolled out in January, according to Hutchison’s proposed plan.
Blood donors can help COVID patients
Donations at blood drives like one planned from 1 to 6 p.m. Oct. 12 at Goessel Mennonite Church, 109 S. Church, could help people suffering from COVID-19. Plasma containing antibodies for the virus, derived from donations of whole blood, is sometimes used to help patients fighting COVID- 19. Now that the Red Cross is testing all donated blood for coronavirus antibodies, plasma may become more available.
Top of the pups
Miss Etta Mae wouldn’t sit still for her official portrait and only sniffed her grand champion trophy, but the 3-year-old mini Australian Shepherd showed spirit that won hearts Saturday as she nuzzled owner Janie Hampton. “She’s a great dog,” Hampton said as the pup frolicked and licked her hand. “She also won the prize for best kisser.”

COUNTY

Former MacGregor's building in limbo
Former MacGregor’s building in limbo By PHYLLIS ZORN Staff writer A former restaurant building at 301 E. Main St. in Marion that has been sitting empty since 2017 may soon be in the hands of a new owner — but the deal has not been closed yet.
Book to document foundation's evolution
A new book will chronicle the evolution of Hillsboro’s MB Foundation, starting with Mennonite Brethren stewardship in the 1880s. Taking Hold of Real Life: The Story of MB Foundation is a commemoration of the foundation’s 30 years of incorporation and 140 years of stewardship.
Dry pastures bring cattle off the range
It may be a little early, but it’s time for the cows to come home. A dry summer’s end parched the grasslands. There is little point in grazing on them, county extension agent Rickey Roberts said.
Homes for $1 apiece pricey to new owners
Marion resident Jason Schafers is one of eight buyers who scored 12 houses for as little as $1 each. The catch is that the homes, sold at tax auction, are in need of major — and costly — renovation.

AUTO

Ethanol fuel now accepted, expected
Ethanol use in vehicles has varying degrees for several decades, but 10% ethanol has been the standard since 2008. While there was pushback from many people at first, Barry Allen of Webster’s Auto stopped seeing as much opposition in recent years.
Hillsboro man takes pride, joy in restored Model A
The Model A was young Richard Dirks’ love at first drive. Old and rusted, the car sat until it was taken apart. His dad who preferred to work on Model Ts. When it still ran, a high-school aged Dirks hopped behind the wheel.

DEATHS

IN MEMORIAM:
Linda Peterson

DOCKET

OPINION

Putting a toe tag on the body politic
A handful of readers inevitably encourage us to find more good news, so this week we’ll indulge them by pointing out the best news we’ve heard in some time: Election Day is just five weeks away. That means we soon will be able to return to the good old days when ambulance-chasing, bull-riding, upside-down lawyers were the main TV advertisers along with drug companies pushing miracle cures that can kill you for illnesses you didn’t know you had.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
Being on maintenance
CORRECTIONS:
Incorrect name
LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
Paying our dues

PEOPLE

Cook, manager attend training
Senior center cook Kathy Bernhardt and site manager Janet Bryant attended required trainings in Junction City for Area Agency on Aging. Rhonda Brenzikofer and Connie Fisher filled in for Bryant on the day she was gone. Becky Hogue and Wilma Nice subbed for Bernhardt when she attended.
Democrats choose precinct representatives
County Democrats chairman Eileen Sieger appointed Ann Carr as representative for Marion South precinct during the group’s meeting September meeting, and James Srajer for Blaine Township. Members discussed participating in Get out the Vote, which they will be mailing postcards for.
Marion student named to K-State honorary
Kansas State University freshman Cassie Meyer, dietetics major from Marion, is one of 32 university freshman named members of Quest honorary. Quest provides ambitious freshmen leaders with tools necessary to give back to K-State. Members are paired with mentors from Blue Key and get a behind-the-scenes look at everything that K-State has to offer. They attend special events and meetings tailored for leadership development several times a month.
Essay scholarship winners named
Graduates Maddy Daniels of Hillsboro and Cassie Meyer of Marion have won $250 scholarships for their essays on tenets of the Democratic Party. Daniels and Meyer both are attending Kansas State University.
Senior center menus
MEMORIES:
10, 25, 40, 55, 70, 100, 140 years ago

SPORTS

Volleyball teams hit winning strides
Volleyball may be the sport to watch in Marion County this fall. Four of the five teams have at least eight wins and records over .500, and Marion and Hillsboro might be fielding their best teams in several years.
Hillsboro clinches homecoming OT thriller
Hillsboro football got back on track this past week, securing a 23-17 homecoming win in overtime against Sterling. The Trojans gave up an early score to Sterling thanks to a turnover on the game’s opening drive. The home team responded by holding the Black scoreless most of the game, eventually surrendering 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Setter's fulfillment grows with experience
Kaete Johnson took over as starting setter for Peabody-Burns volleyball four years ago and has experienced growing pains alongside her team as they struggled to improve. “It was kind of hard,” she said. “It was frustrating because we were putting in all this work but it wasn’t clicking yet. Every year it’s gotten a little better. Last year I felt like it finally clicked, and we were super excited.”
Hillsboro runners finish 2nd, 5th at Marion invitational
Marion played host to Hillsboro, Goessel, and other schools last week, but it was Hillsboro who took the cake among county teams. Freshman Levi Allen turned in a strong performance en route to a second-place finish, and he was followed by Tristan Reed in fifth.

Marion County RECORD

BREAKING NEWS

As Alan Vogel drove his green combine through the ripened fields of corn he couldn’t help but smile. “I could have this every year,” he said as fat kernels fell into a waiting truck.

A male in his 30s and two females in their 40s and 60s with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases are the latest of 106 cases in Marion County. The three were placed in isolation.

Don Wedd is no “muggle.” The Peabody man’s collection of Harry Potter memorabilia that has overtaken a spare bedroom would be the envy of many die hard Potterheads.

Peabody will be taking contest entries for an updated city logo, and councilman Lindsay Hutchison is wasting no time getting the ball rolling. Entries are due by Dec. 15 to be approved by the council Dec. 28, and the new logo will be rolled out in January, according to Hutchison’s proposed plan.

Former MacGregor’s building in limbo By PHYLLIS ZORN Staff writer A former restaurant building at 301 E. Main St. in Marion that has been sitting empty since 2017 may soon be in the hands of a new owner — but the deal has not been closed yet.

A new book will chronicle the evolution of Hillsboro’s MB Foundation, starting with Mennonite Brethren stewardship in the 1880s. Taking Hold of Real Life: The Story of MB Foundation is a commemoration of the foundation’s 30 years of incorporation and 140 years of stewardship.

It may be a little early, but it’s time for the cows to come home. A dry summer’s end parched the grasslands. There is little point in grazing on them, county extension agent Rickey Roberts said.

Marion resident Jason Schafers is one of eight buyers who scored 12 houses for as little as $1 each. The catch is that the homes, sold at tax auction, are in need of major — and costly — renovation.

Ethanol use in vehicles has varying degrees for several decades, but 10% ethanol has been the standard since 2008. While there was pushback from many people at first, Barry Allen of Webster’s Auto stopped seeing as much opposition in recent years.

The Model A was young Richard Dirks’ love at first drive. Old and rusted, the car sat until it was taken apart. His dad who preferred to work on Model Ts. When it still ran, a high-school aged Dirks hopped behind the wheel.

IN MEMORIAM:

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

CORRECTIONS:

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Senior center cook Kathy Bernhardt and site manager Janet Bryant attended required trainings in Junction City for Area Agency on Aging. Rhonda Brenzikofer and Connie Fisher filled in for Bryant on the day she was gone. Becky Hogue and Wilma Nice subbed for Bernhardt when she attended.

County Democrats chairman Eileen Sieger appointed Ann Carr as representative for Marion South precinct during the group’s meeting September meeting, and James Srajer for Blaine Township. Members discussed participating in Get out the Vote, which they will be mailing postcards for.

Graduates Maddy Daniels of Hillsboro and Cassie Meyer of Marion have won $250 scholarships for their essays on tenets of the Democratic Party. Daniels and Meyer both are attending Kansas State University.

MEMORIES:

Volleyball may be the sport to watch in Marion County this fall. Four of the five teams have at least eight wins and records over .500, and Marion and Hillsboro might be fielding their best teams in several years.

Marion played host to Hillsboro, Goessel, and other schools last week, but it was Hillsboro who took the cake among county teams. Freshman Levi Allen turned in a strong performance en route to a second-place finish, and he was followed by Tristan Reed in fifth.