Marion County RECORD

Beauty queen gained confidence

Shannon Tajchman seems like a person who has confidence to spare. She is a beauty pageant veteran, winning her first competition, Miss Teen Great Bend at 17 years old.

No Internet, no problem for Florence mom

The other day, someone asked Natasha Craig-Brenzikofer if she had seen the latest episode of Duck Dynasty. She had no idea what he was talking about; her family does not have cable or Internet.

Election results come in

School board and city elections were Tuesday, and Jan Helmer was re-elected to USD 408 Board of Education while Jana Nordquist and Doug Regnier were elected as new members. Helmer received 135 votes, Nordquist 127, and Regnier 140. Florence Edwin H. Robinson defeated Pamelia Wells for a position on Florence City Council representing Ward 2, 22-11. Mary L. Shipman won an uncontested mayoral race with 44 votes. There were no candidates for Ward 1. USD 397

Dorothy E. Hoffman

Dorothy E. Hoffman, 82, died Monday morning at St. Luke Hospital in Marion. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Florence. The service will be preceded by a rosary. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Zeiner Funeral Home in Marion.

Ethel L. Winters

Ethel L. Winters, 71, died March 23 at Kidron Bethel Healthcare in North Newton. She was born Feb. 13, 1942, in Marion to Fred and Anna E. (Beisel) Brunner. She was a homemaker and retired bookkeeper at Chisholm Middle School in Newton. She was a 1960 graduate of Marion High School and a former member of Circle Eight square dance club.

Civil cases

County jail

Criminal cases

Deeds

Emergency dispatches

Hillsboro police

Marion police

Peabody police

Traffic cases

Expansion and award were 'God things' for Kessler

Marie Kessler loves to quilt. If she had her way, she would quilt 24/7 — and she almost does. However, on March 12 she took time off from Kessler Kreations in Hillsboro to go to Topeka with her husband, Lynn, and a group of other 2013 Kansas Small Business Development award winners.

Burns man learns to budget finances

George Spohn of Burns didn’t bother looking at the price of his bottled water; he knew it could be too expensive. And then, he got to the cash register. “Your total comes to $10.28,” the store worker said, looking at him expectantly.

Banker, real estate agent advise home buyers

Glenn Thiessen is the owner and broker for Fast Reality in Hillsboro. His job depends on selling homes. He said he would advise young couples to start with rental property so they can build up a nest egg.

Marion student gets theater scholarship

Some people have the ability to do everything well. Jay Dee Schafers, a senior at Marion High School is one of those. She is involved in many extra-curricular activities while maintaining a high grade-point average.

Tax refunds are a financial opportunity

The Internal Revenue Service expects about 75 percent of 147 million 2012 tax returns will qualify for a refund. Extension family resource specialist Elizabeth Kiss said people should consider using a refund to improve their financial situations before rushing to spend it. A tax refund is often the largest single sum of money a taxpayer will have during a year. That’s why it is important to take time in deciding how to use it, Kiss said. For some people who have difficulty saving, a tax refund acts as a forced savings.

April is Financial Literacy month

Gov. Sam Brownback declared the month of April 2013 as Financial Literacy Month, knowing that many citizens struggle in this area. “Kansans need to be equipped to make personal financial decisions such as maintain a budget, understanding loans, credit, investment and savings plans, banking and retirement plans in order to make informed choices concerning the different financial institutions available,” he said.

City considers options for Arlie's building

Marion City Administrator Doug Kjellin gave three options for refinancing the former Arlie’s building, 828 N. Roosevelt St., Monday at the City Council meeting. The five-year balloon payment structure closes at the end of July. The way that system worked was that the city and tenant pay five years worth of payments, $1,382 a month, and then put in a large balloon payment for the rest of the cost. The agreement was set up with a 30-year amortization. On the sliding scale, interest is paid first over a 30-year period. On the first of Arlie’s payments, $1,100 went to interest. The original principal was $254,519. The current principal is $235,437.

City ponders property tax exemption

A public hearing will take place 4:30 p.m. April 15 during the Marion City Council meeting concerning an industrial revenue bond for the September Housing projects. The city has the option of entering in an industrial revenue bond agreement with Homestead Affordable Housing. An industrial revenue bond uses the city as conduit to acquire funds through a bank. The city would have ownership of the property for the life of the bond, but if the company went under, the city would not be responsible to make payments, Gilmore Bell accountant Sarah Steele said.

Monthly sales tax receipts down

General sales tax received by the county in March was down more than one-tenth compared to a year ago. Sales tax on January sales was $50,233, down from $56,020 in 2012.

Can we afford to turn away volunteers?

Marion City Council put an end to the question of whether Diana Holub would be reappointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals, passing a resolution declaring her “unqualified and/or not fit to hold the position,” despite three council members saying for months that they didn’t have a problem except for her being on both the Board of Zoning Appeals and Planning Commission simultaneously. Holub was appointed to the Planning Commission on Jan. 7. It isn’t really a case of them changing their tune, though. State law requires that someone be found unqualified or unfit to serve on a board if a council rejects an appointment by the mayor. So they didn’t really mean it when they put into the permanent record that Holub is unqualified or unfit to serve on a board she had previously served on.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

BALANCING ACT:

Marion revival to be held at area churches

The Rev. Matt Henson, an approved United Methodist evangelist, will be preaching during the “Three Days for God”revival April 7 to 9. Eastmoor and Valley United Methodist churches are meeting together forevangelistic services Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights at 7 p.m.

4-H events planned

Marion County 4-H will have five project-based events in the upcoming month. The Harvey County Livestock Judging Contest will be Tuesday at the Newton fairgrounds.

Ladies auxiliary to meet Thursday

St. Luke Hospital Auxiliary will meet Thursday at 10 a.m. Susie Kliewer will be talking about knitting as a therapeutic technique.

Sheriff recognizes dispatchers

Sheriff Rob Craft recognizes the following public-safety dispatchers in Marion County for their skillful service in the past year: Kenny Newell, Sandy Scheele, Mischelle Dush, Chelsea Weber, Lisa Manwaring, Alicia Stobne, Jessica Parks, Megan Chizek, Sarahanne Unruh, and Linda Klenda. This announcement comes in time for National Public-Safety Telecommunications week, held April 14 to 20, when the department celebrates dispatchers for their service. By officially recognizing these professionals, the sheriff’s office hopes to awaken public awareness and promote education regarding important public-safety issues and legislation.

Kiwanis recognizes longtime member

With the club’s 90th anniversary banquet coming up April 18, Marion Kiwanis Club recognized member Leland Heidebrecht on Tuesday for being a member for 45 years, half of the club’s existence. Virginia Higgins of the Emporia club spoke about the Kansas Kiwanis Foundation, which gives out 29 scholarships and is raising money to create a new scholarship.

Stell makes a difference in child's life

There’s no one like John Stell in the mind of eight-year-old Nathan Vinduska of Lincolnville. Stell was Nathan’s special guest at Blue Ribbon Day ceremonies Thursday at Centre High School. Stell is his Grandma Judy’s friend from rural Topeka. He has become a surrogate “Grandpa” because all of Nathan’s grandfathers no longer are living.

Grandson earns ROTC honors

Chase Matthew Bureman was named company commander of the Purdue University Naval ROTC MIKE Company. Only one senior midshipman is chosen for this highest leadership position at Purdue Naval ROTC. James and Sherry Bureman of Springfield, Mo., are his parents, and Matt and Mary Kay Classen of Marion are his grandparents.

Fike family meets for Easter

Warren and Paula Fike of Ramona were the hosts of an Easter dinner Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church parish hall. After the dinner, there was an Easter egg hunt. Attending the gathering were Duane and Ruthita Fike of Redlands, Calif., Toby and Allison Fike and Ramona of Arvada, Colo., Rodney and Krista Peterson of Valley Center, Dan and Linda Peterson of Burdick, Tom and Susie Omli, Tobi, Sesely, and Sydney of Brookville, Jeff and Jaime Peterson, Daniel, Isaac, and Clara of Eudora, Steve and Sandra Deines of Pierce City, Mo., Stacey and Carla Collett and Lillian and Carley Collett of Marion, Kaleb Collett of Lincolnville.

Wiens family has Easter gathering

The family of Mary Ann Wiens gathered at the Hilltop community room Saturday for an Easter dinner. After dinner, there was an Easter egg hunt at the home of Gerald and Jan Wiens.

Church has Easter breakfast

Marion Christian Church’s Fellowship Committee had an Easter breakfast at 8 a.m. Sunday in the church’s fellowship hall. Biscuits and sausage gravy, fresh fruit cups, juice, milk, and coffee were served to about 75 people. The hall was decorated in an Easter theme.

Library to host natural remedy session

Marion City Library is holding a Lunch ‘n Learn session noon to 1 p.m. April 10. Angela Ciero will talk on using herbs and other natural remedies to restore health. General admission is $5 and reservations are required by April 8. To register, call (620) 382-2442.

American Legion elects officers

Richard Soyez was elected commander of American Legion Post 22 in Marion on Monday night. The office was most recently held by the late Kevin Hoffer. Other officers elected were 1st Vice Cmdr. Toni Stephens, 2nd Vice Cmdr. Dick Varenhorst, Adjutant and Chaplain Gary Chaput, Finance Officer Leland Heidebrecht, Service Officer Jerry Kline, Assistant Service Officer Leslie Wandler, Historian Rosse Case, and Assistant Chaplain Dennis Burch.

CORRESPONDENTS:

MEMORIES:

High school has ACT prep day

Posted in classrooms throughout Marion High School are goals for students on the ACT college entrance exam. Specifically, the goal is for students to meet or exceed the state average in each subject area and overall. As part of the effort to pass that goal, the school offered ACT preparation sessions covering all four areas — English, math, reading, and science — for students Thursday morning in advance of the April 13 exam.

Centre kindergarten screening is April 19

Centre USD 397 will be having a kindergarten screening April 19 at the Centre K-12 School. Children who will be 5-years-old on or before Aug. 31 are encouraged to participate in the screening.

Marion Middle School honor roll

Seventh grade: Megan Bailey, Meggan Frese, Kourtney Hansen, Payton Harms, Courtney Herzet, Allison Hett, Jessi Lewman, Austin Neufeld, Corin Parmley, Kyle Pierce, Samantha Richmond, Jackson Schneider, Lindsey Sigel, Carley Stapleford, Zachary Stucklik, Logan Waner, Corbin Wheeler, Colin Williams. Eighth grade: Garrett Alleven, Tyler Arocha, Katelyn Christensen, Falon Crawford, Emily Hague, Cade Harms, Molly Hess, William Holt, Marissa Jacobson, Paige May, Taylor May, Shonda Ratzloff, Seth Savage. Regular honors

Warriors rake in throwing medals

The Marion High School track and field team won 10 of 18 possible medals in throwing events Tuesday, including four of six first-place medals. The boys swept the medals in discus, with Nick Meyer first at 138-7, Kyle Palic second at 135-7, and Spencer Fugitt third at 130-2.

Hett pitches perfect game

The Marion Warriors baseball team only required six innings to win a pair of games Thursday against Herington via the mercy rule. Pitcher Ethan Hett was dominant in the first game as the Warriors won, 15-0. It was a three-inning perfect game for Hett as he struck out seven batters.

Softball team misses split

The second game of the Marion Warriors’ season-opening softball double-header Thursday against Herington came down to a single call at the end. The Warriors trailed, 11-10, with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Montana Percell was on third base, and Balee Shiplet was at second base. Andrea Nordquist hit an infield ground ball and hustled up the first-base line.

Cougars winn 11 medals in Hillsboro

Centre’s Anna Weber placed first in the girls’ long jump and second in triple jump Tuesday at Hillsboro. Cassidy Hill was first in javelin and second in discus. Brenna Shields was second in the 100-meter dash. Justin Deines was first in javelin. Ty Simons was first in the 110-meter high hurdles and 300-meter intermediate hurdles. Houston Svoboda was second in the 100-meter dash and third in the 200. Deines, Svoboda, Grant Srajer, and Conner Montgomery combined to win the 4x100 relay.

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