Marion County RECORD

HEADLINES

Haunted by past, cop quits
A 1995 California conviction in a misdemeanor domestic violence case, revealed to authorities by a blogger, may have cost Marion police officer Michael Stone his job. The five-year veteran has resigned, effective Saturday. A complaint submitted July 10 to the state Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (C-POST) asserted that the conviction disqualified Stone from serving as a police officer.
UPDATED: Commissioners trim tax increase for ambulance
After county commissioner Dianne Novak called a special budget meeting to discuss trimming EMT overtime, commissioners voted to decrease their proposed 2018 budget increase of two mills to one and a half mills. With this decrease, about $165,000 less will be added to the ambulance personnel budget, which includes roughly $247,650 in overtime pay for full-time EMTs and paramedics.
The cat came back
When Linda Frye worked at Coneburg Inn, she had a frequent four-legged visitor. “Our cat, Sosea, would always come over and see me at work,” Frye said. “Sometimes I would go into the kitchen and see him out of the back door.”
Our two newest reporters interview each other
When one of the Record’s two new reporters, Jason Tidd, first delivered newspapers in the third grade, he had no idea journalism would eventually become his life passion. “My route delivered newspapers to the townhouses in subsidized living,” Tidd said. “The residents would steal newspapers from under the doors of their neighbors, showing me just how much the community values local journalism — even if Thursday’s paper with the TV guide was the one stolen the most.”

OTHER HEADLINES

Wind farm debate revs up again
Landowners blew through a gust of grievances on un-built wind farms Monday years after they signed leases — or, in one case, after construction started on property where a lease was never signed. One landowner, Sandy Sellers, told Marion County commissioners he never signed a lease, yet Windborne Energy still performed work on his property against his will.
Annual sales meeting goes high-tech
A dizzying array of products and technology was on display last week when Western Associates had its top 20 independent salespeople from around the country in Marion for an annual look at what’s new in the world of promotional marketing. “It’s our national headquarters, so we’re going to bring them to our home office,” CEO Dave Crofoot said.
Appraiser says life here is an adventure
For newly hired county appraiser Lisa Reeder, life in Marion is a new adventure. She worked for almost 23 years in an appraiser’s office in Trego County, where she was born and raised on a farm south of Ogallala.
St. Luke receives $100,000 for Living Center windows
Windows at St. Luke Hospital Living Center will be replaced before winter thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Sunderland Foundation of Overland Park. “Windows may have been one of those things that may have been left until later,” St. Luke CEO Jeremy Ensey said. “By getting this grant, it’s something that will happen sooner. We’re very excited, to say the least.”
Lawyers celebrate being cheap bastards
Marion County lawyers admit they are “cheap bastards.” They even celebrate it with a golf trophy engraved “Cheap Bastards Cup” that changes hands each year when lawyers attend a continuing education and social day that includes a lecture, lunch, golf tournament, and dinner.
Prankster delays cable installation
Workers for Olathe-based Universal Communication found an unpleasant surprise Monday morning when they prepared to resume work laying AT&T fiber optic cable along Cedar St. in Marion. Overnight someone had moved a backhoe just north of the intersection of Cedar and Kellison Sts. and left the bucket sitting in the northbound lane of Cedar St.
Criminal checks not routine for new county hires
Although cities and some counties — along with many private companies — routinely require a criminal background check and drug testing before a new employee starts work, Marion County does not. According to county clerk Tina Spencer, the county doesn’t have a policy of doing these checks as a condition of hiring.
City waiver for ducks still won't fly
Jason Ivy, who asked city council members to review city restrictions on ducks, is going to have to wait a bit longer before learning whether he can keep the ducks whose eggs his wife eats. City attorney Susan Robson said two weeks ago that she would have a proposed amendment or other recommendation for Monday’s council meeting.
Show heifer is on the loose
Ben Freeman and his 15-year-old granddaughter, Lauren, had taken her 4-H show heifer to the Mike Ehrlich farm north of Marion to have her hooves trimmed when she spooked and ran away Friday. “She ran through a creek, into a corn field, and got away,” Freeman said. “We couldn’t cross the creek fast enough. By the time we got up the steep, 15-foot embankment, she was long gone.”
Expert to tell about eclipse
Six days before this month’s awe-inspiring solar eclipse, a distinguished professor and teaching scholar from Kansas State University will be in Marion to explain how to view the eclipse and why such phenomena seem so rare. Physics professor Christopher M. Sorensen will talk at 7 p.m. Aug. 15 at Marion City Library’s Santa Fe Room about why eclipses happen and when, where, and how to best experience this upcoming eclipse. Free glasses with which to view the eclipse will be distributed.
Market adds Saturday
Farm and Art Market at Marion has expanded from Wednesday evening to Saturday morning as well. Hours now are 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, both at Central Park.
Relay for Life needs canned goods
Marion County Relay for Life will be Saturday at Marion High’s Warrior Stadium. Organizers will use canned goods as weights for the luminaries this year. After the event, the canned goods will be distributed among the four local food banks. Multiple drop-off buckets are available at Hillsboro and Marion businesses and the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce office.

DEATHS

Esta Hall
Services for longtime Burns resident Esta Hall, 89, Burns, who died Monday at Newton Medical Center, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Burns United Methodist Church. Visitation will be 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the church
Bob Hiebert
No services are planned for Hillsboro native and former Marion resident Robert W. Hiebert, 80, who died July 18 in Jefferson City, Missouri. Born Jan. 3, 1937, in Hillsboro to Alfred and Ruth Hiebert, he was raised in Marion and graduated from Marion High School in 1955.
Calvin Hiebert
Services for former Agco employee Calvin Jay Hiebert, 65, Goessel, who died July 29, will be at 2 p.m. today at First Mennonite Church, Hillsboro. Burial will be at Lehigh Mennonite Cemetery, Lehigh.
'Booster' Brown
Services for longtime Vulcan Chemical operator Mark A. “Booster” Brown, 69, Marion, who died Monday, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Marion Christian Church. Visitation and a private graveside service will follow Born Oct. 16, 1947, in El Dorado to Catherine and Raymond Brown, he was a member of the last graduating class from Burns High School in 1967 and that year married his first wife, Beverly. He married his second wife, Suzie, in 1991. She and his parents preceded him in death.
Lewis Pettross
Services for retired Navy veteran Lewis Pettross, 77, who died Monday at Parkside Homes, will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Hillsboro United Methodist Church. A committal service at Springfield Cemetery, rural Hillsboro, will follow.
Eleanore Rucker
Services for Lincolnville native Eleanore Rucker, 96, who died July 23 at her home in Herington, were Saturday at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Herington. Burial was at Sunset Hill Cemetery, Herington. Born Aug. 5, 1920, to Axel F. and Fannie (Kandt) Holmgren, she is survived by children Larry Rucker and Lyn Rucker-Powell, both of Herington, and Eric Rucker of Topeka; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Betty Seibel
Services for Peabody native Betty Mildred (Newton) Seibel, 94, who died July 24, were Saturday. Burial was in Prairie Lawn Cemetery. Born Sept. 10, 1922, she graduated from Peabody High School in 1942 and on April 5, 1943, married Wallace C. Seibel.
IN MEMORIAM:
Blanche Blackwelder, Dolores Lee

DOCKET

FAIR RESULTS

HOME AND GARDEN

Think your garden is work?
Up to 2,000 tomato plants planted this spring in hoop houses on the Jirak Brothers Produce farm in rural Tampa are nearing peak production this week. Jirak’s niece, Heidi Jirak, works every weekday from sunup to mid-morning, harvesting the deep red fruits, some weighing as much as 1½ pounds.

OPINION

The truth about fake news
Executives from both KWCH-TV (Channel 12) and KPTS-TV (Channel 8) were quick to object to last week’s editorial “Live from Marion County, it’s fake news.” And they were right — sort of. Even though one of his news anchors seemed to say otherwise, KWCH news director Brian Gregory said his station would never knowingly allow news to be staged just so live video could be broadcast.
An unhappy reader
We’ve heard from a dozen readers who offered praise — and from one county employee who most certainly did not — about recent editorials questioning what county commissioners are doing. A county secretary who moonlights as manager of a small business dropped by our office around 4 p.m. Friday to say her business would never again advertise in our papers because of what we have been writing about commissioners.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
Civilization 101
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
How county money is spent, Public servants have become masters, Piece of sh***', News not for sale

PEOPLE

Deputy moves to detective
Deputy Derek Fetrow will fill a detective vacancy in the sheriff’s department created by the departure of Wilma Mueller, Sheriff Robert Craft confirmed Monday. The position was advertised July 19. Craft said Fetrow’s experience in the department would be beneficial in making the transition to a multifaceted role.
Treasurer on light duty after injury
County treasurer Jeannine Bateman, recovering from a leg injury, will be in and out of the office for the next several weeks. Bateman said her leg was punctured May 21 by a tree branch as she was mowing. The puncture went nearly to the bone.
Hannaford reappointed
Roger Hannaford III of Marion will serve a second three-year term on the state Abstracters Board of Examiners. Hannaford, manager of Security 1st Title, is president of the three-member testing and licensing board, appointed by Gov. Sam Brownback.
Aulne parishioners refurbish Texas houses
Aulne United Methodist Church welcomed home Sunday nine adults and 10 teenagers who spent a week on a mission trip to Southside Community Center in San Marcos, Texas. San Marcos is 30 miles southwest of Austin along I-35 and has a population of about 62,000. The center there is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Methodist conference.
Museum honors young volunteer
Marion Historical Museum director Peggy Blackman presented Gracie Mackey a “world’s best volunteer” certificate Monday for volunteering her services to the museum every Friday throughout the summer. Mackey, who attends Marion Middle School, said she had a lot of free time after swim team, so she stopped by the museum and asked Blackman whether she could volunteer to help over summer break.
Reception to honor 95th birthday
Helen Fulton of Salina, who served Florence and Aulne United Methodist churches when her husband was pastor there, will celebrate her 95th birthday at a reception from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Aug. 12 at Eaglecrest Retirement Community, 1501 E. Magnolia Rd., Salina. Hosts will be her children Dennis Fulton and wife, Janette, of Nampa, Idaho, and Jeanna Short and husband, Dale, of El Dorado.
95th birthday celebration
A celebration of Elmer “Bob” Delk’s 95th birthday will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church fellowship hall. Hosts will include his wife, Dorothy; his children and their spouses, Donna and Dan Dalke, Barbara and Dick Koontz, Shirley Delk, and Rob Delk; his grandchildren; and his great-grandchildren.
SENIOR CENTER:
Menu
MEMORIES:
10, 25, 35, 50, 60, 100, 125 years ago

SCHOOLS AND SPORTS

School supply drive planned
Donations of school supplies for local student in need are being accepted at several Marion locations. Collection boxes can be found at Marion County Food Bank and Resource Center, Butler Community College, Marion park and recreation office, Carlsons’ Grocery, Lanning Pharmacy, St. Luke Hospital, and several churches.
Noller's team wins women's scramble
Judy Noller of Marion and her teammate, Kathy Miller of McPherson, won Thursday’s nine-hole scramble at Marion Country Club. Their combined score of 33 was three strokes ahead of the second-place team of Angela Albin and Paige Brunner, both of Marion.
College honors and degrees

UPCOMING

Labor Day to feature frisbee golf
A new event, a Frisbee golf tournament Sept. 2, will be included in the 80th annual Florence Labor Day celebration. The two-man event will start at 8 a.m. at the Frisbee golf course on 8th St.
Calendar of events

Marion County RECORD

When Linda Frye worked at Coneburg Inn, she had a frequent four-legged visitor. “Our cat, Sosea, would always come over and see me at work,” Frye said. “Sometimes I would go into the kitchen and see him out of the back door.”

For newly hired county appraiser Lisa Reeder, life in Marion is a new adventure. She worked for almost 23 years in an appraiser’s office in Trego County, where she was born and raised on a farm south of Ogallala.

Marion County lawyers admit they are “cheap bastards.” They even celebrate it with a golf trophy engraved “Cheap Bastards Cup” that changes hands each year when lawyers attend a continuing education and social day that includes a lecture, lunch, golf tournament, and dinner.

Farm and Art Market at Marion has expanded from Wednesday evening to Saturday morning as well. Hours now are 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, both at Central Park.

Services for longtime Burns resident Esta Hall, 89, Burns, who died Monday at Newton Medical Center, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Burns United Methodist Church. Visitation will be 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the church

No services are planned for Hillsboro native and former Marion resident Robert W. Hiebert, 80, who died July 18 in Jefferson City, Missouri. Born Jan. 3, 1937, in Hillsboro to Alfred and Ruth Hiebert, he was raised in Marion and graduated from Marion High School in 1955.

Services for former Agco employee Calvin Jay Hiebert, 65, Goessel, who died July 29, will be at 2 p.m. today at First Mennonite Church, Hillsboro. Burial will be at Lehigh Mennonite Cemetery, Lehigh.

Services for retired Navy veteran Lewis Pettross, 77, who died Monday at Parkside Homes, will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Hillsboro United Methodist Church. A committal service at Springfield Cemetery, rural Hillsboro, will follow.

Services for Peabody native Betty Mildred (Newton) Seibel, 94, who died July 24, were Saturday. Burial was in Prairie Lawn Cemetery. Born Sept. 10, 1922, she graduated from Peabody High School in 1942 and on April 5, 1943, married Wallace C. Seibel.

IN MEMORIAM:

Up to 2,000 tomato plants planted this spring in hoop houses on the Jirak Brothers Produce farm in rural Tampa are nearing peak production this week. Jirak’s niece, Heidi Jirak, works every weekday from sunup to mid-morning, harvesting the deep red fruits, some weighing as much as 1½ pounds.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

County treasurer Jeannine Bateman, recovering from a leg injury, will be in and out of the office for the next several weeks. Bateman said her leg was punctured May 21 by a tree branch as she was mowing. The puncture went nearly to the bone.

Roger Hannaford III of Marion will serve a second three-year term on the state Abstracters Board of Examiners. Hannaford, manager of Security 1st Title, is president of the three-member testing and licensing board, appointed by Gov. Sam Brownback.

SENIOR CENTER:

MEMORIES:

Judy Noller of Marion and her teammate, Kathy Miller of McPherson, won Thursday’s nine-hole scramble at Marion Country Club. Their combined score of 33 was three strokes ahead of the second-place team of Angela Albin and Paige Brunner, both of Marion.

A new event, a Frisbee golf tournament Sept. 2, will be included in the 80th annual Florence Labor Day celebration. The two-man event will start at 8 a.m. at the Frisbee golf course on 8th St.