10 years ago

May 29, 2002

The sixth annual Chingawassa Days festival kicks off Friday evening, continues all day Saturday, and ends Sunday morning. This year’s celebration features 38 Special as Saturday evening’s main attraction.

Braxton Skiles won the Class 3A triple jump Saturday at the state tournament in Wichita and became one of the select few high school athletes in Kansas to record three state titles in track and field.

Seven graduates of the Sunshine Country Pre-School program were honored Saturday at a graduation ceremony held at St. Mark’s Activity Center. This year’s graduates were Ali Munns, Bret Voth, Megan Jirak, and Samantha Davies of Marion, Caleb Kristek of Lincolnville, and Justin Bina and Tabitha Oborny of Pilsen.

Marion High School juniors Tomi McLinden and Natasha Steinborn have been selected to attend Girls’ State next week on the campus of the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

High winds May 22 blew down a portion of a tree on the east side of Central Park. City crews spent two days cutting and hauling away the limbs and trunk. No one was hurt when it fell, but an elementary school class was in the park when the tree split apart.

Marion Elementary Principal Terry Slattery is pictured presenting Marion Reservoir Park Ranger Neal Whitaker with a plaque recognizing him as the school’s “Friend of Education” for 2002.