OSD parade celebrates St. Luke Hospital
There was a festive mood in Marion Saturday as people gathered for the 91st annual Old Settlers' Day parade. Welcome flags waving in the breeze and lively old-timer music floating through the air combined to set the stage for the much-anticipated event.
Families and friends lined Main Street to visit and view the parade.
Casey Case announced the hour-long procession which featured 80 entries.
The parade theme was evident as many entries celebrated the 50th anniversary of St. Luke Hospital and its "50 Years of Service."
Leading the way was Grand Marshal Bill Meyer, editor of the Marion County Record.
According to Tom Kimbrel, parade chairman, Meyer was chosen because he was the last surviving member of the original board which was instrumental in getting the hospital district established.
Float slogans such as "50 Years of Healing" and "50 Years of Caring" were common.
Donna Ewert Hajek, the first girl baby born at St. Luke Hospital, rode in the parade, as did doctors, nurses, and other care givers.
Girl Scouts carried signs saying, "I was born on
Five bands livened the event. They were from Hillsboro Jr./Sr. High School, Peabody/Burns High School, Peabody/Burns Junior High School, Marion High School, and Marion Middle School.
As usual, horses and their riders were at the rear, and were followed by the "pooper scoopers" from Marion Chamber of Commerce.
A service provided this year for the first time was a live broadcast of the parade over MCTV, Channel 22, the county cable channel.
"We did it to allow those to view the parade who were unable to come downtown," commentator Kevin Fruechting said.
Other commentators were Kevin Hoffer and Mike Powers. Gene Winkler was cameraman.
The parade will be re-broadcast tonight (Wednesday) following the 7 p.m. Marion Middle School football game.
The pre-parade music and loud-speaker system were provided by Gary Carlson and the flatbed trailer by Jim Donahue.
Float winners
Open: 1. Marion Manor; 2. St. Luke Hospital; 3. Girl Scouts
Church: 1. Eastmoor United Methodist; 2. Marion Presbyterian; 3. Valley United Methodist.
Class: 1. Sophomores; 2. Juniors; 3. Seniors.
Bikes and trikes: 1. Justin Hiebert 2. Cody Hiebert 3. Cory Hiebert.
Costumes: 1. Bryce Shults 2. Dustin Geiner.
Junior bikes: 1. Brian Hiebert 2. Brandon French 3. Jacob Baldwin.
Every parade entry (except bikes and trikes) received at least $25, with prize winners receiving more. Float judges were Jim Clemmer, Tampa; Joanna Brazil, Peabody, and Pat Wick, Ramona. Bike judge was Jeannine Bateman.
At noon, people flocked to Central Park to enjoy a sloppy joe and hot dog meal provided by Marion Kiwanis Club. According to Mickey Lundy, out-going Kiwanis vice president and now president, the 150 pounds of hamburger prepared were sold out to more than 500 hungry customers in 40 minutes, as were the pies. She said that has never happened before.
During the afternoon, temperatures rose into the upper 80s, but the dry breeze and shade trees kept the air comfortable.
Children and adults alike participated in foot games and an egg toss. Winners were as follows:
Egg toss
Kindergarten to eighth grade: co-champions, Justin Heidebrecht and Joey Boaldin, and Brian Fruechting and Mitch Cady.
Open class: co-champions, Kevin Burkholder and Tim Jirak, and Joel Versch and Clayton Chamberland.
Dash
Kindergarten and younger boys — 1. Chase Holub. 2. Seth Snelling. 3. (tie) Lane Nienstedt and Remington Putter.
Kindergarten and younger girls — 1. Reagan Jirak. 2. Chelsea Dunn. 3. Taylor Wafer.
First and second grade boys — 1. Grif Case. 2. Jordan Hett. 3. Braden Putter.
First and second grade girls — 1. Danae Bina. 2. Abby Dillon. 3. Mallory Hickey.
Third and fourth grade boys — 1. Aaron Bina. 2. Corey Hiebert. 3. Matt Sprowls.
Third and fourth grade girls — 1. Whitney Gordon. 2. Annie Whitaker. 3. Amanda Wilson.
Fifth and sixth grade boys — 1. Drew Maddox. 2. Connor Hickey. 3. Michael Wafer.
Fifth and sixth grade girls — 1. Lindsey Hett. 2. Kristen Steinborn. 3. Jenna Williams.
Seventh and eighth grade boys — 1. Luke Bowers. 2. Alex Wituk. 3. Logan Richmond.
Seventh and eighth grade girls — 1. Amanda Bina. 2. Julia Schrag. 3. Emily York.
High school boys — 1. Tim York. 2. Jack Meredith. 3. Jamie Schrag.
High school girls — 1. Jessie Fredrickson. 2. Jeni Fredrickson. 3. Katie Wafer.
Men — 1. Kevin Weigart. 2. Darrel Shults. 3. Kerry Sandwell.
Women — 1. Erin Devries. 2. Denice Bina. 3. Laura Hiebert.
Sack race
Kindergarten and younger boys — 1. Chase Holub. 2. Noah Lornelas. 3. Remington Putter.
Kindergarten and younger girls — 1. Taylor Wafer. 2. Allie Hancock. 3. Ashley Ploutz.
First and second grade boys — 1. Jordan Hett. 2. Braden Putter. 3. Dylan Jirak.
First and second grade girls — 1. Danae Bina. 2. Dana Wafer. 3. Mallory Hickey.
Third and fourth grade boys — 1. Cody Dunn. 2. Aaron Bina. 3. Matt Sprowls.
Third and fourth grade girls — 1. Jessica Carlson. 2. Tristan Snelling. 3. (tie) Donna Cady, Emmalee Hett.
Fifth and sixth grade boys — 1. Connor Hickey. 2. Drew Maddox. 3. Sam York.
Fifth and sixth grade girls — 1. Lindsey Hett. 2. Bridget Lundy. 3. Abby Hollbacht.
Seventh and eight graders — 1. Amanda Bina. 2. Joey Boaldin. 3. Luke Bowers.
High school — 1. Jamie Schrag.
Open — 1. Darrel Shults. 2. Kerry Sandwell. 3. Erin Devries.
Three-legged race
Kindergarten and younger — 1. Wesley Dicks and Lane Nienstedt. 2. Chase Holub and Bryce Shults. 3. Remington Putter and Seth Snelling.
First and second grades — 1. Jordan Hett and Ethan Hett. 2. Dana Wafer and Mallory Hickey. 3. Caitlin Smith and Danae Bina.
Third and fourth grades — 1. Chassidy Carlson and Donna Cady. 2. Emily Hett and Melissa Carlson. 3. Whitney Gordon and Annie Whitaker.
Fifth and sixth grades — 1. Connor Hickey and Michael Wafer. 2. Lindsey Hett and Bridget Lundy. 3. Mitch Cady and Wil Case.
Seventh and eighth grades — 1. Justin Heidebrecht and Joey Boaldin. 2. Amanda Bina and Abby Smith. 3. Luke Bowers and Nic Waner.
High school — 1. Jeni Fredrickson and Jessie Fredrickson. 2. Jamie Schrag and Julia Schrag. 3. Alex Wituk and Katie Wafer.
Open — 1. Mickey Lundy and Alice Gordon. 2. Mike and Laura Wafer. 3. Sidney Hubbard and Charlie Hiebert.
Wheelbarrow race
Kindergarten to fourth grade — 1. Brandon Meierhoff and Matt Sprowls. 2. Michael Kirkpatrick and Aaron Bina. 3. (tie) Madison Dicks and Amanda Wilson, Grif Case and Jordan Hett.
Fifth to eighth grade — 1. Sheldon Boone and Mitch Cady. 2. Justin Heidebrecht and Joey Boaldin. 3. Lindsey Hett and Kristen Geis.
Open — 1. Darrel Schulz and Kevin Wigart. 2. Tom Hickey and Mike Wafer. 3. Tim York Sr. and Tim York Jr.
The Marion Jr./Sr. High School band, along with the flag team, performed following the games.
Mary Herbert of Wichita was the oldest alumnus present at the presentation of reunion classes. The 88-year-old woman was in the class of 1931. Her five children all were born in Marion. The family lived here until 1952.
The three members present from the class of 1932 were Olga Hett Piper, Abilene; Martin Klenda, Marion; and Homer Stiller, Newton. They, as well as members of many other classes, rode in the parade, as well.
Although scattered throughout the country, many still claim Marion as "the best place I've seen."
Mud Run
Approximately 100 people attended a mud run for four-wheel ATVs at Green Acres Raceway. It was hosted by Marion/Florence FFA chapter.
Participants made their way as far as possible through a mud pit approximately 200 feet long.
Top finishers in each division were:
Two-wheel drive — 1. Stephen Bowers 2. Drew Looper 3. Casey Nelson.
Four-wheel drive — 1. David Tharp 2. Tyler Miesse 3. Becky Tharp.
Paddle tire — 1. Thad Looper 2. Casey Nelson 3. Stephen Bowers.
5K run
Earlier in the day, a number of ambitious people gathered at Marion County Park and Lake to participate in a 5K run and fun run.
Winners of the race were: l. Evan Yoder, 43, Peabody, 19 min. 37 sec.; 2. Matt Robert, 35, Marion, 22 min. 8 sec.; 3. Lloyd Davies, 41, Marion, 22 min. 30 sec.; 4. Thad Nichols, 13, Hesston, 23 min. 48 sec.; 5. Ted Osgood, 62, Moorefield, W. Va., 28 min. 4 sec.
"The day was a success," said Lundy. "We had a really good crowd and the weather was great."
