10 YEARS AGO

September 7, 2005

A group of people from Golden Heritage Foods of Hillsboro has spearheaded a relief effort for victims of Hurricane Katrina and is prepared to leave September 19 for Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with three semis loaded with necessities for victims of the disaster.

Former Marion resident Rod Steele recently completed a commissioned mural for the American Indian Museum in Bolivar, Missouri. Steele now resides and is employed in Bolivar. He credits his success to Marion High art teacher Jim Versch.

Tristan Williams and Taylor Pontious are pictured with a huge 47-pound watermelon picked from their garden. They are the children of Doug and Sheila Williams of Marion.

A story in this issue features the Methvin family of Peabody who raise alpacas for fun and profit. They will have apparel made from alpaca fiber available at their booth at Art in the Park.

Traffic checkpoints were conducted Friday morning near elementary and high schools in Marion and Hillsboro to check seatbelt wearers. Drivers received one dollar if all passengers were properly buckled. The checkpoints, sponsored by State Farm Insurance and Kansas Safe Kids, distributed a total of $150 in a 40-minute time frame.