Marion County RECORD

HEADLINES

Every pilgrim has a story
Joseph Perez-Strohmeyer’s decision to fly to a state he never visited and join people he didn’t know on a pilgrimage stunned his family. But the Canton, Ohio, native said he couldn’t ignore the butterflies in his chest after a phone conversation with a stranger.
County lags in vaccination
Although 50% of state residents have been vaccinated against COVID-19, just 34.3% of Marion County residents have been, according to county health nurse Diedre Serene. According to Kansas Department of Health and Environment data, 4,075 Marion County residents have been fully vaccinated.
No takers for broadband
Despite Marion and three banks securing $35,000 to match a $160,000 grant to provide broadband internet to Marion’s industrial park, no business has signed up for it so far. When the city obtained the grant, council members thought businesses in the industrial park would sign on.
Museum display proves no dud
For as long as anyone can remember, a World War I hand grenade and two French airplane bombs have been on display at Marion’s museum. Friday, they were detonated at the south county shop by soldiers from Fort Riley’s explosive ordinance division.
UPDATED: Deputy called to unruly council meeting in Burns
An unruly scene at Tuesday’s Burns city council meeting caused the meeting to be adjourned early and a sheriff’s deputy to intervene. Earlier reports that an arrest had been made, presumed to be true on deadline because the deputy went to the county jail afterward, were false. The Record apologizes for that error.
Water turns brackish as project advances
Marion residents have been finding brown water and sometimes foul-smelling water coming out of their pipes amid efforts to replace city lines in their neighborhoods. Large mounds of dirt piled up in bunkers have made streets look like war zones in areas where lines are being worked on.

OTHER NEWS

JR Hatters packs up store between rodeos
Six to eight times a year, JR Hatters packs up its whole store — merchandise and equipment alike — to set down at rodeos and trade shows across the state. This time is a little different, however, because the store is moving up to a larger building in between rodeo weekends.
Fountains being prepared to flow
Fountains in Marion’s Central Park are being prepared to be filled and turned on. Public works director Tim Makovec said Tuesday that the smaller fountain, with a newly installed bathing swan sculpture has been cleaned and will be flowing soon.
Marion takes 1st look at priorities
Crumbling streets, more housing, increased demand for restaurants and hotel rooms because of tourists visiting Pilsen, fire equipment, and repairs to the city building were discussed Monday by Marion city council. It was the council’s first session to discuss budget priorities for fiscal year 2022. No decisions were made. Instead, department heads came with wish lists.
Hillsboro man taken to jail, then hospital
A Hillsboro man arrested on suspicion of trespassing Saturday was released from custody when it became apparent he needed medical attention. An ambulance was called to Marion County Jail. Marion ambulance took the man, whose name police would not release, to Newton Medical Center for treatment of a suspected overdose.
Lawyers agree on competency test
A lawyer for Marion resident Rexana Siebert, who has 10 criminal cases pending against her, and county attorney Joel Ensey agreed Monday to have her evaluated to determine whether she is competent to stand trial. Siebert is charged with burglary and criminal trespass stemming from a May 14 incident in which she allegedly entered a friend’s home without permission and took a bath.
Route 56 Classic Cruisers rev for annual car show Saturday
After a year off from COVID-19, the Route 56 Classic Cruisers’ annual car show will return Saturday to Hillsboro’s Memorial Park. Kim Abrahams, president of Classic Cruisers and organizer of the event, estimates that 80 to 110 vehicles will show.

COUNTY

Roads could take 8 weeks
It could take six to eight more weeks for county road crews to fix damage to roads caused by last month’s flooding, county engineer Brice Goebel told county commissioners Monday. “We had water coming out of flat wheat fields,” Goebel said. “It’s just unbelievable.”
Farmers market opens for the season
Five vendors appeared at Hillsboro farmers’ market when it opened for the summer Thursday at Memorial Park. That’s a bit short of the market’s six to 10 vendor average of last year. Vendors pay no fees and are not required to follow a schedule. The market officially is open Thursdays 5 to 7 p.m. for vendors who make products from their home or garden.
County sets fireworks times
Times for the sale and shooting of fireworks outside of city limits in Marion County were approved Monday by county commissions. Fireworks may be sold and shot:
Post office reopens nearly 2 years after flooding
Durham has reopened its post office nearly two years after devastating floods had residents picking up mail in Herington. The lobby is now open 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
UPDATED: Algae advisories renewed for both lakes
A blue-green algae warning for Marion Reservoir and a less-serious watch for Marion County Lake were renewed Thursday for another week. They will be re-evaluated June 17. Contact with lake or reservoir water should be avoided, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said in announcing the alerts. Visitors whose skin contacts lake or reservoir water should rinse with fresh water as soon as possible afterward.

DEATHS

IN MEMORIAM:
Betty Stenzel
IN MEMORIAM:
Phyllis Mueller
IN MEMORIAM:
Kenneth Winkley

DOCKET

OPINION

Taking a sip from a fountain of commonsense
It should come as no great surprise — but I’m sure it will provide ample fodder to a handful of venomous people constantly accusing us of all manner of false, hateful things on anti-social media — for me to admit I’m strange. I have a thing for Caffeine Free Diet Dr Pepper, which seems to have vanished from store shelves since the pandemic. I love techno-gizmos that turn things off and on by talking to them. I absolutely refuse to develop any sense of Christmas spirit until after I have watched for something like the 60th time both popular versions (two others can be ignored) of “Miracle on 34th St.” I’ve boldly gone where only Trekkies go and memorized nearly every line of every “Star Trek” movie and series ever launched. I’ve taken probably a thousand photos of Marion’s courthouse and Central Park fountains.
Never poke the beast
We’re by no means perfect. Just ask Tampa readers, whose papers probably arrived a day late the past few weeks. Or Marion readers, who’ve had to wait a few hours to pick up their papers from our office on recent Wednesdays. Or local postal workers, who’ve rushed around to accommodate production problems at our press in Hutchinson the past few weeks. We’re not blameless in this. We typically push our deadlines — sometimes too far — to try to publish the best newspaper possible each week. Sometimes, when there are problems elsewhere in addition to our pressing, the system breaks down. Add to that our being down a person because of an injury that we hope will soon be resolved, and we’ve had later papers — for which we abjectly apologize.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
Vintage goods

OUTDOORS AND HOME

Wiccan garden a calming backyard oasis
From lavender growing in a cracked witch’s cauldron to plants in buckets, tanks, pots, a wheelbarrow, and even an old wringer washer, Autumn Hanson has a garden with something for everyone. A large rubber ducky constantly bathes under a stream of water that runs from an old water pump into a stock tank where the ducky floats.
Homes offer modern convenience, country peace and quiet
If you are looking for a quick getaway or a quiet weekend vacation owner of Marion County rental properties hope to meet your needs. Operators of several renovated vacation rentals have included modern conveniences on estates with country peace and quiet.
Lake shop to offer live bait after mix-up stalls application
Marion County Lake’s reopened shop plans to start selling live bait Tuesday, but a county commissioner first will need to hand-deliver paperwork in Emporia. Lake supervisor Isaac Hett hopes David Crofoot’s errand will iron out a mix-up that marooned the shops application in bureaucratic purgatory.

PILGRIMAGE

Wichita artist writes song for Father Kapaun
Jack Korbel had been so inspired by Father Kapaun’s life he decided to name his son after him long before a medical emergency led to the boy’s 10-weeks-early delivery. A Wichita resident, Korbel prayed for Kapaun’s intercession the eight weeks his baby was in neonatal intensive care.
Song for Father Kapaun
Song for father Kapaun Father Kapaun you remember what it’s like down here on Earth,

PEOPLE

Birthday card showers requested
The family of Margaret Hein, who will turn 95 June 16, is requesting a card shower for her. Her address is Margaret Hein, 1 Park Ave No. 101, Hillsboro KS 67063.
Weekend concerts planned
Tabor College will offer three weekends of music this month, starting with a jazz concert by Teichler and Friends at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Kliewer Plaza, outside the Shari Flaming Center for the Arts. R. Christopher Teichler is an associate professor and director of instrumental music at Tabor.
Farmers market checks, commodities available
Packets of seven $5 vouchers that can be used at farmers markets are available for qualifying seniors 60 years old and older. The vouchers can be used to purchase fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs from authorized farmers at any farmers market in Kansas.
Senior center menus
MEMORIES:
10, 25, 40, 55, 70, 100, 140 years ago

SCHOOL

College degrees and honors
Hillsboro grad to play at Tabor
Hillsboro High graduate Teegan Werth has signed to join the women’s basketball team at Tabor College this fall. Werth scored 1,017 points during her high school basketball career and scored an averageof 11.2 points a game as a senior for the Trojans, who ended the season 19-4, their best record in eight years.
7 earn state FFA degrees
Four Centre and three Goessel High school students received state degrees by Future Farmers of America during a virtual state convention this past week. Centre students Samantha Engler, Elias Jirak, Dillon Knepp, and Lane Methvin and Goessel students Bethany Herrel, Berlin Lewis, and Luke Wiens were among 40 south-central district students honored.
Honor roll

Marion County RECORD

Joseph Perez-Strohmeyer’s decision to fly to a state he never visited and join people he didn’t know on a pilgrimage stunned his family. But the Canton, Ohio, native said he couldn’t ignore the butterflies in his chest after a phone conversation with a stranger.

Although 50% of state residents have been vaccinated against COVID-19, just 34.3% of Marion County residents have been, according to county health nurse Diedre Serene. According to Kansas Department of Health and Environment data, 4,075 Marion County residents have been fully vaccinated.

Despite Marion and three banks securing $35,000 to match a $160,000 grant to provide broadband internet to Marion’s industrial park, no business has signed up for it so far. When the city obtained the grant, council members thought businesses in the industrial park would sign on.

For as long as anyone can remember, a World War I hand grenade and two French airplane bombs have been on display at Marion’s museum. Friday, they were detonated at the south county shop by soldiers from Fort Riley’s explosive ordinance division.

Marion residents have been finding brown water and sometimes foul-smelling water coming out of their pipes amid efforts to replace city lines in their neighborhoods. Large mounds of dirt piled up in bunkers have made streets look like war zones in areas where lines are being worked on.

Six to eight times a year, JR Hatters packs up its whole store — merchandise and equipment alike — to set down at rodeos and trade shows across the state. This time is a little different, however, because the store is moving up to a larger building in between rodeo weekends.

Fountains in Marion’s Central Park are being prepared to be filled and turned on. Public works director Tim Makovec said Tuesday that the smaller fountain, with a newly installed bathing swan sculpture has been cleaned and will be flowing soon.

After a year off from COVID-19, the Route 56 Classic Cruisers’ annual car show will return Saturday to Hillsboro’s Memorial Park. Kim Abrahams, president of Classic Cruisers and organizer of the event, estimates that 80 to 110 vehicles will show.

It could take six to eight more weeks for county road crews to fix damage to roads caused by last month’s flooding, county engineer Brice Goebel told county commissioners Monday. “We had water coming out of flat wheat fields,” Goebel said. “It’s just unbelievable.”

Times for the sale and shooting of fireworks outside of city limits in Marion County were approved Monday by county commissions. Fireworks may be sold and shot:

Durham has reopened its post office nearly two years after devastating floods had residents picking up mail in Herington. The lobby is now open 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

IN MEMORIAM:

IN MEMORIAM:

IN MEMORIAM:

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

If you are looking for a quick getaway or a quiet weekend vacation owner of Marion County rental properties hope to meet your needs. Operators of several renovated vacation rentals have included modern conveniences on estates with country peace and quiet.

Jack Korbel had been so inspired by Father Kapaun’s life he decided to name his son after him long before a medical emergency led to the boy’s 10-weeks-early delivery. A Wichita resident, Korbel prayed for Kapaun’s intercession the eight weeks his baby was in neonatal intensive care.

Song for father Kapaun Father Kapaun you remember what it’s like down here on Earth,

The family of Margaret Hein, who will turn 95 June 16, is requesting a card shower for her. Her address is Margaret Hein, 1 Park Ave No. 101, Hillsboro KS 67063.

Tabor College will offer three weekends of music this month, starting with a jazz concert by Teichler and Friends at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Kliewer Plaza, outside the Shari Flaming Center for the Arts. R. Christopher Teichler is an associate professor and director of instrumental music at Tabor.

Packets of seven $5 vouchers that can be used at farmers markets are available for qualifying seniors 60 years old and older. The vouchers can be used to purchase fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs from authorized farmers at any farmers market in Kansas.

MEMORIES: