Marion County RECORD

Another head-on collision happens at county line

Two cars collided Monday on U.S. 56/77 just south of the Marion/Dickinson county line, only hours before Marion County commissioners were to review emergency dispatch policies in the wake of a double-fatality accident Aug. 10 at the same location. Valerie Pesina, 20, of Balch Springs, Texas and passenger Andrew Ramos, 21, of Junction City were northbound at approximately 9:15 a.m. when Pesina drove off the road onto the east shoulder, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol crash report.

Wedding dress review is memorable

If it were a movie, Frieda Bentz would have watched Allison Basore walk down the paper-thin aisle in her wedding dress and the dress would come alive again with young fluid strides. Instantly and vividly, Bentz would have been transported back to March 14, 1943. She would have seen herself again as a young bride. She was nervous on the windy, sunny March day. There were so many things to do. The feeling of excitement and anxiety would have filled her again like a fountain warming her entire body.

Trash is treat for dog

He didn’t need to see it. Tiger, a black and white Shih Tzu dog, could hear the Marion trash truck rumbling down Elm Street on Monday. He walked to the front door and patiently stood there, waiting. Ed and Luke Siebert live at 608 Hudson St., and they got Tiger five-and-a-half years ago.

Bridge catches fire near Florence

A bridge on the BNSF Railway just east of Florence caught fire Aug. 22. Matt Hegwer, a cattle-buyer from Carthage, Mo., was in Florence on business when he saw smoke coming from the bridge and reported the fire around 11 a.m. Florence Fire Department responded and had the fire extinguished by about 12:30 p.m.

Relay for Life celebrates survivors

When a person gets a cancer diagnosis, a time limit usually comes with it — the patient has so many years, or months, to live. When they beat the odds and smash through that limit, it’s a cause for celebration.

Dedication planned for Santa Fe Trail signs

A ceremony to dedicate signs marking the Santa Fe Trail in Marion County will take place at 2:30 p.m., Sept. 23, at Cottonwood Crossing Historic Interpretive Kiosk, 1.5 miles west of Durham. Dignitaries representing the National Park Service, Santa Fe Trail Association, and county government will take part in the ceremony to celebrate the placing of more than 100 signs. Marion County is the first county in which the Santa Fe National Historic Trail “family of signs” has been fully implemented.

FBI arrests sex offender in Hillsboro

A registered sex offender was arrested Aug. 22 in Hillsboro by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Hillsboro Police Department, and Marion County Sheriff’s Department. About 7 a.m. Nicholas Christopher Knittig was arrested at his workplace and his residence at 302 N. Washington St., Hillsboro, was searched in accordance with a warrant, Hillsboro Police Chief Dan Kinning said Friday. Investigators did seize evidence from his home.

Sheron Kay Baker Bailey

Sheron Kay Baker Bailey, 62, died Aug. 20 at her residence in Florence. She was born Feb. 18, 1950, to Charles Ray and Helen Louise Ellis Baker. She was a certified dietary manager at West View Manor in Peabody.

Gary A. Bartlett

Gary A. Bartlett died Monday evening in his home in Wichita. He is survived by wife Sheryl, children, Bob and Kelly, and four grandchildren.

Darrel R. Hanson

Darrell R. Hanson, 66, died Aug. 20 at Newton Medical Center. He was born Nov. 21, 1945, in Beatrice, Neb. He graduated from Peabody High School. He was a retired machinist

Ruth E. McGinnes

Ruth F. McGinness, 83, passed away Aug. 21, 2012, at St. Luke Living Center in Marion. She was born near Peabody, the daughter of Cornelius and Bertha Wall Klein. She graduated from Peabody High School and attended Kansas State University. On Aug. 29, 1948, she was united in marriage to Edward W. McGinness; their family grew to include two children:David and Marilee.

Jayne Olson

Jayne Olson, 82, died on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, at home in Arkansas City, Kan. Memorial services were scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home of Arkansas City. Private family interment will be in the Parker Cemetery at a later date. She was born on Jan. 7, 1930, in Barnard, Kan., to George and Jewell Cummings Nelson. Jayne married Robert “Bob” Olson in Glasco, Kan., and together they had six children.

Edna Toews

Edna Lois Toews, 91, died Aug. 20 at Mercy Hospital in Moundridge. She was born Aug. 23, 1920 in Marion, to James E. and Gertrude Cornwell Grubb. She married Geovennie Toews on Oct. 3, 1943. He preceded her in death in 1999.

Accidents reported

Civil cases

County jail

Criminal cases

Emergency dispatches

Fish and Game

Hillsboro police

Marriage licenses

Peabody Municipal Court

Peabody police

Jail open house is Sept. 7 and 8

Marion County Sheriff’s Department will host an open house at Marion County Jail Sept. 7 and 8. The Friday session will begin at 3 p.m. and continue until 7 p.m. The Saturday session will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bowers enjoys native flowers and plants

Hot, dry conditions this summer left many gardeners feeling helpless to save their flowers and decorative arrangement materials, but not Mary Beth Bowers. Bowers uses native Kansas wildflowers and pasture plants to create arrangements and decorate her two homes north of Marion, as well as to share with others.

Summer was hard for gardens

This summer’s drought has turned a promising start of the growing season into a struggle to keep gardens alive. Thanks to a mild winter and early spring, gardeners got off to one of the earliest starts in memory, with one farmers market vendor selling “June” strawberries in April. “Things set on so nice, then it just got dry,” said gardener Shana Thornhill of rural Marion.

Credit where credit due

I went to Tampa on Saturday for the city’s quasquicentennial — that is, 125 years — anniversary celebration. Most of the time you would think a rainy day would seriously dampen people’s spirits with a daylong outdoor celebration, but after this summer, everybody seemed happy to be out in the rain. I certainly didn’t hear any complaints. When it started pouring late in the afternoon, the children playing outdoors didn’t seek shelter or pull out umbrellas. They reveled in the rain and kicked up big splashes from rain-filled gutters. Maybe it was because of the rain or the celebration, but people in Tampa seemed to have a really optimistic attitude on Saturday, especially about revitalizing their community. People and businesses are taking initiative to improve their community, instead of waiting for government to save them. Perhaps the centerpiece of Tampa’s redevelopment is the upcoming opening of Trail Stop, a small community-run grocery store that will allow residents to get essentials like bread and milk without having to make a long trip.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

Legion fish fry is Sept. 9

James William Miesse American Legion Post 22 of Marion will have a fish fry at 6 p.m. Sept. 9 at Marion County Lake Hall. The meal will be a fundraiser for the post, and all proceeds will be used to support programs for veterans, youth, and the local community. The post asks for a $10 donation per person.

Custodian doesn't allow deafness to be a disability

For someone with the self-proclaimed gift of gab, an assumption might be that Richard Idleman would find it difficult to communicate with an employee who was unable to speak, but communication has not been an issue between Idleman and Anthony Gardner. The two can converse for hours. They volley quick, good-natured barbs back and forth like a tennis match. They scribble on a six-inch yellow notepad, pass the sheets back and forth, and chuckle as they read each other’s sloppy handwriting.

Donors give to Marion blood drive

A steady stream of 69 donors took part Aug. 20 in the Marion community blood drive. Joni Crofoot and Janet Bryant organized the event. Local volunteers included Rhonda Brenzikofer, Shirley Bowers, John Yoder, Gayle Thomas, Wanda Carr, Donna Kreutziger, Jim Crofoot, Diane Richmond, and Shari Padgham. Equipment was unloaded by Kiwanis Club members and reloaded by Marion Boy Scouts.

Band, baseball, and races part of Labor Day fun

The Riker Band will provide street dance music Sept. 1 in Florence, and the 75th annual Labor Day celebration will include new events like a vintage baseball game and 5-kilometer run. Steve Riker, a former member of the classic rock band Head East, will play familiar hits from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s along with his twin sons, Seth and Stephen. They will also play original songs by Seth and Stephen. To top off the show, they will play Head East hits like “Love Me Tonight” and “Never Been Any Reason,” and more. A $5 Labor Day button is required for admission.

CRP hay sales now allowed

A change last week in U.S. Department of Agriculture policy puts money in Conservation Reserve Program participants’ pockets if they signed up for emergency haying and grazing provisions. “Generally, haying, livestock grazing, or harvesting and selling product from CRP acreage is not allowed,” county executive director of the Farm Service Agency program in Marion, Bill Harmon, said. “But the emergency haying contract allowed participants to cut up to 50 percent of grassland for their own use. A policy change now allows those participants to sell what they have produced from those acres, with no restrictions.”

State reports more cases of West Nile Virus

Kansas Department of Health and Environment officials confirmed five more cases of West Nile virus in the state, and are watching 14 additional cases. Of the 19 total cases now reported in Kansas, one patient died due to the disease carried by mosquitoes. As of Friday, the case count by county in Kansas was Sedgwick, 12; Harvey, 1; Douglas, 1; Pottowatomie, 1; Reno, 1; Stafford, 1; Sumner, 1; and Trego, 1. No other details about the death or confirmed cases were available at press time.

Sudanese refugee enrolls in Centre's virtual school

A farmer sits in his combine bringing in the season’s harvest. He has a small piece of land with corn, soybeans, milo, and okra. In the midst of his work, he watches waves of brown clad militia infantry touting AK-47s appear in his tree line. They are not official government troops with mismatched uniforms and ragged jeeps; in fact, they are worse — the soldiers tasked with doing the government’s dirtiest work.

Cards requested for Dorothy Scharenberg's birthday

Dorothy Scharenberg, Parkside Homes, Hillsboro, celebrated her 90th birthday Aug. 24. Friends and well wishers may send cards to her at 200 Willow Road, Hillsboro, KS 67063.

Democratic women meet and eat

The Marion County Democratic Women met Aug. 24 for lunch at Marion Senior Center. They brought canned vegetables for the Marion County Emergency Food Bank. Sue Clough conducted business and announced that one officer position was open. Officer elections will take place in fall.

CHS senior trained for leadership

As a student leader at Centre High School, 17-year-old Carrie Carlson participated in many events this summer that strengthened her leadership abilities. The highlight for her was five days she spent in Washington D.C. at the Washington Leadership Conference sponsored by the National FFA organization. Carlson was vice president of the Centre FFA chapter in 2011-12 and is serving as president this year. She also is the south central district vice president.

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ENGAGEMENT:

MEMORIES:

WEDDING:

Centre school coffee shop is successful

Facebook was blowing up. That’s how Centre High School seniors Beka Basore and Anna Weber described the impact of the school coffee shop, Centre Perk, which began as their business plan for class.

Emporia State University offers business workshop

Emporia State University Small Business Development Center will offer a free workshop 3 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 13 for those thinking of starting a small business. Registration is required by Sept. 6 by email to ksbdc@emporia.edu or by calling (620) 341-5308. The workshop will cover information about marketing, management, and writing a business plan.

New teachers glad to be at Marion

Different experiences and different backgrounds define new teachers and staff at USD 408 this year, but all express the same sentiments. They are glad to be part of the Marion school district. Janessa Wood

MHS juniors selling magazines for prom funds

Marion High School junior class members are knocking on doors around town from now to Sept. 10, peddling magazine subscriptions and renewals to earn money for the spring prom. “They should be out there after school and weekends, whenever they can get out there,” junior class sponsor Denise Kline said. “This is their prom, they have to come up with the money.”

Pfizer donates funds to area FFA clubs

The Marion-Florence High School FFA chapter recently received donation dollars from Pfizer Animal Health on behalf of Animal Health Center and Spur Ridge Veterinary Hospital. The Centre FFA chapter received a donation through Animal Health Center. The money distributed totaled more than $1,800. The donations were provided through a spring promotion in which 1 percent of all Pfizer animal health product purchases made between Feb. 1 and April 30 was donated to local FFA chapters of choice.

Meyer, Carlson attend FFA leadership conference

Nicholas Meyer of Marion High School and Carrie Carlson of Centre High School participated in the Kansas FFA District Officer Conference on Aug. 11 and 12 at Rock Springs Ranch in Junction City. Carlson is district vice president and Meyer is district reporter, both for the South Central District. The conference included events intended to educate the officers about introductions and first impressions, setting measurable and attainable goals, team communication, team development, and time management.

Football scrimmage sets the stage for first game

Fans of big-play football had plenty to cheer about Friday during the annual Marion High School football soap scrimmage. Taylor Heidebrecht, James Jones, and Morgan Wheeler each ripped off scoring jaunts of more than 50 yards. Heidebrecht turned a tough fourth-down play into a 25-yard touchdown pass to Brody Carroll. Jones hauled in an interception. And to cap it all off, Grif Case nailed a wind-aided 40-yard field goal that would’ve cleared the crossbar from 50 yards.

Marion volleyball team upbeat to begin season

Right from the start of the Marion High School volleyball scrimmage Friday at the Sports and Aquatics Center, it was clear the enthusiastic, energetic style of new head coach Deanna Thierolf was reflected in her players. “I’ve was pleased with their grit, their fire, their hustle — we have kids pushing each other,” Thierolf said.

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