Marion County RECORD

Bullet hole found at Hillsboro school district office

Hillsboro USD 410 Superintendent Steve Noble was working the morning of Dec. 7 when he heard an unexplained bang. “I heard a sound I’d never heard before,” he said.

City gives workers a 2 percent pay raise

Marion City Council on Monday approved a 2 percent pay raise for all employees except department heads. City administrator Roger Holter said the raise was mostly a cost-of-living adjustment. The increase was budgeted into the 2014 budget and it will take effect in January.

Food lab settles litigation

CiboTech owner Dan Madgwick has resolved a lawsuit over his plans to open a lab in Marion to examine contaminated food and is going forward with his plans. Madgwick said the lawsuit by his former employer, Alteca Ltd., was settled Nov. 19. He is satisfied with the results, but will have to change his business plan slightly in the short run.

Tower project nears completion

Renovation to the four faces of the Marion County Courthouse clock tower is rapidly approaching completion. The last leg of the project started Monday with the west- facing clock dial when David Seay of Regulator Time Company and his team removed the temporary plywood cover from the opening and installed both the iron quarter sections and the glass face.

City already has 8 applicants for development post

Marion City Administrator Roger Holter told Marion Economic Development Inc. board members Tuesday morning that the city has received eight applications for the economic development position Holter held until his recent promotion. He said three of the applicants were qualified for the job. The city will continue accepting applications until interviews are scheduled mid-January, he said. Holter is seeking volunteers for a panel to interview candidates.

Heitschmidt will run for mayor, Olson undecided

Marion City Council member Todd Heitschmidt told his fellow Marion Economic Development Inc. board members Tuesday morning that he plans to run for mayor in the spring election. He said he hadn’t filed yet. The filing deadline for the city election is noon Jan. 21. The election will be April 1.

Mayor makes board appointments

Mayor Mary Olson made several appointments to city boards Monday at the Marion City Council meeting. Roger Hannaford, Leland Heidebrecht, and Stan May were appointed to the cemetery board.

Appraiser arrives, formally accepts offer

County commissioners wasted no time Monday, spending a 10-minute executive session with newly hired appraiser Raymond Cook discussing contractual details. Cook accepted an annual base salary of $55,000, with $1,500 raises in the second and third years. The fourth year will be negotiable.

County adds emergency notification service

Marion County Sheriff’s Department and the office of emergency management began using a new communications service that allows information to be sent to residents via text messages or e-mail. Residents must subscribe to the Nixie Community Information Service to get the notifications at http://www.marioncoks.net/.

4 taken to hospital after school vehicle rolls

Three Goessel school students and a driver were taken to hospitals after the sport utility vehicle they were in slid on ice and rolled Friday morning between Marion and Hillsboro. They were on their way to classes in Marion when the vehicle crashed, USD 411 Superintendent John Fast said.

Jackie Goodwin

Jackie “Jack” Eugene Goodwin, 88, of Akron, Colo., died Thursday. He was born June 17, 1925, to Pearley and Carrie Goodwin in Mendota, Mo. At a young age, he moved with his family to Burns where he farmed the family homestead with his father and brothers. He joined the Merchant Marines and served from 1944 to 1945.

Marlin Miser

Marlin G. Miser, 48, of Burdick died Saturday, the result of an automobile crash east of Herington. He was born July 17, 1965, at Council Grove to Wayne L. and Mary Lou (Mickey) Miser. He was director of transportation at EVCO of Emporia. He was a member of the Saffordville Methodist Church and loved farming.

Deanna Snyder

Deanna Snyder, 7, died Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, at Olathe Medical Center. She was a student at Marion Elementary School. She was born Sept. 5, 2006, in Wichita to Trinity and Jessica Snyder. She enjoyed church, Awana, Kids for Christ, and Girl Scouts.

IN MEMORIAM:

Accidents reported

Civil division cases

County Jail arrests and bookings

Criminal division cases

Deeds recorded

Emergency dispatches

Fish and Game division cases

Marriage licenses issued

Offenses reported

Police incident reports

Traffic division cases

Riffel joins state ag department

Jumping on the farming video train

After the Peterson Brothers’ video parody, “I’m Farming and I Grow It,” went viral, it seemed like the public could not get enough of the farmer-made YouTube videos portraying life on their farm. The Peterson Brothers — Greg, Nathan, and Kendal made their video a year ago to raise awareness about how hard farmers work to feed the nation. However, Peabody farmer Derek Klingenberg was ahead of the curve. He uploaded his first video, “Bumble Bees in the Hay,” five years ago, “just for fun,” he said, and has been creating videos ever since, including his newest addition “Walking around the T-Bone Steak,” a “Rocking around the Christmas Tree” parody.

Loans available for grain storage facilities

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency is offering low-interest loans to farmers to build or upgrade grain storage facilities and drying and handling equipment through the Farm Storage Facility Loan program. Loans are available to:

Nutrient injection adds value to hay bales

Craig and Joyce Benning, who live 5 miles west of Goessel, recently started a sideline business helping farmers increase the nutrient value of hay bales. The business grew out of a discovery they made at the height of the drought in August 2012 when their cowherd needed something more than the native grass to maintain their health.

Moran reflects on 1,000th town hall

Since coming to Congress in 1997, I have made it my top priority to return home each weekend to visit with the folks who sent me to Washington on their behalf. Whether the conversations occur in line at the grocery store, at church, or when I’m filling up my truck at the gas station, the input I get from Kansans matters to me and impacts the decisions I make in Washington. When I was elected to the House of Representatives, I launched the “Big First Listening Tour” and held annual town hall meetings in each of the First District’s 69 counties. I have continued this tradition as a Senator and have traveled throughout all 105 counties in our State as part of my new “Kansas Listening Tour” to hear directly from Kansans.

Marion County Jail, 19??-2013

The old Marion County Jail passed away Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, after a short battle with an excavator owned by Pearson Construction Company. It is survived by the courthouse, the extension service annex, and the new law enforcement center. Genealogical research was inconclusive: several county officials thought the jail was built in the early 1930s, but the appraiser’s office shows it was built in the 1940s. Whenever it was built, it had multiple additions over the years. The latest addition was in 1981, which added dispatch to the jail.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

Blue Christmas' service set

Pastor David Ragland of Peabody United Methodist Church will have a blue Christmas service for those who have suffered loss from death, divorce, unemployment, or other life changes. The service will begin at 7 p.m. Dec. 21.

Blood drives coming up in January

January is National Blood Donor Month, and there will be blood drives in Marion and Peabody during the month. The American Red Cross will have a blood drive from 2:15 to 6:45 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Holy Family Catholic Church activity center, 415 N. Cedar St., Marion, and another from 2 to 6 p.m. Jan. 14 at Peabody United Methodist Church, 403 Sycamore St., Peabody.

Ramona native McIntosh gave $5 million to K-State

Wayne McIntosh, a native of Ramona and retired U.S. Air Force colonel, left a $5 million gift for Kansas State University through his trust after his death in 2012. McIntosh’s bequest will benefit construction of the university’s Welcome Center, as well as multicultural initiatives. McIntosh received a bachelor’s degree in general sciences in 1938 and a master’s degree in education in 1939. He was in the ROTC program and played trumpet in marching band. He joined the Air Force in 1941, serving in World War II, flying over Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, on D-Day in 1944.

Kiwanians sing Christmas carols

Marion Kiwanis Club met Tuesday with 19 members and one guest in attendance. Club members sang three Christmas carols — “Deck the Hall,” “God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen,” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful” — as well as a Kiwanis song and the last verse of the national anthem. Member Andrew Brunner announced he and his wife, Jenna, are expecting their first child.

Christmas concert is Sunday

Organist and pianist Stephen Vincent will present a concert, “The Music of Christmas,” at 3 p.m. Sunday at Valley United Methodist Church, Marion. Narrator and trumpeter Paul Epp and violinist Judith Priest will join Vincent in the program.

Democratic Women have holiday meeting

Marion County Democratic Women had their holiday meeting Thursday at Hilltop Manor. They had enchiladas made by Marion Senior Center. Sue Clough provided ice cream, and Janet Bryant took cookies made by Jan Wiens. Clough conducted the business meeting, which was short.

Heereys married 60 years

Charles and Virginia Winter Heerey will celebrate their 60th anniversary. They married on Dec. 26, 1953, in Marion. They have lived in Marion all of their married life. They have three children, Brad and wife, Rhonda, Heerey of Wichita, Doug and wife, Lori, Heerey of Marion, and Cindy and husband, Chuck, McSwain of Wichita.

BIRTHS:

MARION SENIOR CENTER:

MEMORIES:

Girls make strides during Classic

Despite the disappointment of a 27-point loss in the Marion Classic final Saturday, the Marion High School girls’ basketball team continues to improve. “I think next week when we get together for practice, they’ll realize it’s a positive thing,” head coach Kelly Robson said. “It’s been a long time since Marion has had a team in the final of this girls’ tournament.”

Wrestlers take 2nd at Hesston

With three Marion wrestlers claiming first place, three winning second, and two taking third in their respective weight classes, the team scored 159 points and brought home second place Saturday at the Hesston wrestling tournament. Coach Chad Adkins said there were 17 total teams at the tournament.

Warriors place 2nd in Marion Classic

After the Marion boys’ basketball team lost its only game in the Marion Classic Saturday, head coach Jeff McMillin said the three-game tournament was representative of an entire season. “It was pretty symbolic of how a whole season is,” he said. “You have ups and downs, but you just try to keep as even-keel as possible, come back, and keep improving.”

Centre girls place 3rd in tourney

The Centre Lady Cougars defeated Rural Vista Saturday 53-42 to place third in the Herington Preseason Tournament. They defeated Herington and lost to Northern Heights earlier in the week. Bryanna Svoboda had her best game of the week Saturday, scoring 13 points. Shelby Makovec had 12 points, Cacey Simons 9, Amy Makovec 8, and Makenzie Deines 7. Brenna Shields and Ally Basore added two points each.

Centre Cougars place 2nd in pre-season tournament

After defeating Herington Dec. 10 and Northern Heights Thursday in the Herington Pre-season Tournament, the Centre boys’ basketball team faced formidable, state-ranked 3A Southeast of Saline Saturday in the championship game. The Trojans towered over the Cougars, but the team fought fiercely to the end, losing the game by 13 points.

K-State names Hiebert special teams co-MVP

The Kansas State University football team honored Goessel High School graduate Weston Hiebert as special teams co-MVP for the 2013 season on Friday. Hiebert is a redshirt junior defensive back for the Wildcats. He has made 10 tackles on special teams and blocked a kick. He also had seven tackles in 2012. Hiebert shared special teams MVP honors with wide receiver and return specialist Tramaine Thompson.

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