Marion County RECORD

HEADLINES

Rescuers stymied as two stuck cars catch fire
In a span of two days, county first responders were dispatched to two separate vehicle fires involving motorists stuck in mud. And in both cases, emergency crews themselves became mired while attempting to help. The first incident occurred around 2:15 a.m. Monday on 110th Rd. just east of Jade Rd., where a Lindsborg man was stranded for close to eight hours after driving onto a muddy, low-maintenance stretch of roadway where water crosses the road.
Sick? It's no COVID comeback
Recent illnesses in the county including cancellation of classes for two days at Centre prompted some to wonder whether COVID-19 had returned. Krista Schneider, Marion County health department director, said a return of COVID-19 was not responsible.
Marion considers switching sports leagues
Marion schools are considering league realignment. The district now is a member of the Heart of America League.
Bucket truck delayed; salvaged cop car OK'd
The Marion City Council approved the purchase of a salvaged police cruiser Tuesday but delayed action on a nearly $300,000 bucket truck for the electric department pending review of financing options. Council members unanimously voted to buy a 2024 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor from J.W. Auto Sales for $32,500, plus approximately $16,300 to outfit the vehicle with law enforcement equipment.
County delays wind farm, rental regs
Country commissioners delayed actions Tuesday on revision of regulations on wind farms. Planning and zoning director Sharon Olmstead was directed to clarify concerns with county counselor Brad Jantz or consultant Russ Ewy.
Buyer seeks to sell, lease old dollar store
Marion’s former Family Dollar/Dollar Tree store is up for lease or purchase after it was bought by a South Dakota company, Shay’s Storage. The company, based in Sioux Falls, is a real estate firm owned by Shannon Van Buskirk.

OTHER NEWS

Peabody tabs Oasis chief
Stacey Parks will become superintendent of Peabody-Burns schools July 1. Parks, director of Marion County Special Education Cooperative, has been connected to Peabody-Burns since 1999.
Nation's 250th birthday relay to pass through county
A coast-to-coast relay celebrating America’s 250th anniversary is expected to roll through Marion County this fall. Riders will follow rural roads through Ramona, Durham, and Tampa. The America 250 Relay, organized by American Discovery Trail Society, will follow America’s only coast-to-coast recreational trail from California to Delaware.
Hillsboro ponders cleanup
Hillsboro homeowners may have to clean up their properties or face the consequences. City council members heard a presentation Tuesday that urged Hillsboro to join a state program of property cleanup.
Mayor won't seek another term
Hillsboro Mayor Lou Thurston won’t seek another term. His term will end in a little less than two years, and he thought the time was right to identify a council member he might support to be the next mayor.
Podcasts focus on city workers
A new podcast by Hillsboro City Council member Ronald Wilkins is introducing the public to major department heads and what happens behind the scenes. In his first podcast last week, Wilkins played the role of a police officer conducting a traffic stop.

DEATHS

Donald Ewert
Services for Donald W. Ewert, 102, Durham, who died Feb. 10 at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro, will be 11 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Durham. Relatives will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the service at the church.
Sam Johnson
Sam Johnson, 81, died Feb. 8 at his home in Marion. He was born March 29, 1944, in El Dorado to John and Clara Lee (Stebbins) Johnson, attended Oil Hill Elementary School in El Dorado and graduated from Circle High School.
Galen Penner
Services for Galen Wayne Penner, 76, who died Feb. 11 at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro, were Monday at First Mennonite Church in Hillsboro. Interment was at Johannestal Cemetery, rural Hillsboro.
IN MEMORIAM:
Danial Kroupa
IN MEMORIAM:
Brenda McGinness

FOR THE RECORD

OPINION

It's lights, camera, inaction on conspiracy theories
Have you heard? Movie moguls have given up on Hollywood and decided to move from the land of fruits and nuts to a more all-American location — which, of course, makes Marion County a prime candidate for landing one or more major motion picture studios. Location scouts already have suggested Aulne might be a highly coveted site, but the choice would not be without problems.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
What day is this?
LETTERS:
Preserve the park, Conspiracies, Need to focus

PEOPLE

New officer comfortable in new community
New Hillsboro police officer Tom Godfrey is about a month into his job and says he’s settling in well with the community and the department. Godfrey, who started with Hillsboro Police Department on New Year’s Eve, has been in law enforcement for about three years. Before coming to Hillsboro, he worked for Meade County sheriff’s office in southwest Kansas.
Easter bunny crafts planned
How to make Easter bunnies out of socks will be the topic of a hands-on crafts demontration at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Marion City Library. Registration costs $5. Reservations are being accepted at (620) 382-2442.
Kindergarten roundup set
Parents of Marion-Florence children who will turn 5 by Aug. 31 and plan to attend kindergarten this fall are being urged to contact Lisa Collett at (620) 382-3771 to arrange an appointment for this spring’s kindergarten roundup March 23 at Marion Elementary School.
College degrees and honors
Senior center menus
MEMORIES:
10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 110, 150 years ago

SPORTS

Boys' teams seek late-season momentum
As the regular season comes to an end this week, three county boys’ teams scored victories last week as they attempted to get hot and carry momentum into the post season. Marion
County girls bounce back
Four of five county girls’ teams bounced back from last week’s losses with victories this week. Marion

MORE…

MARION COUNTY WEATHER

Clear and 26

LIVE RADAR AND CURRENT CONDITIONS

Temperature		26 degrees at 2:30 a.m.
Today's high so far		30 degrees
Today's low so far		26 degrees
Relative humidity		84%
Wind		W at 0.0 mph, gust to 0.0
Barometric pressure		30.54 inches of mercury
Precipitation today		0.00 inches

FORECAST AT A GLANCE

SUN

38
NNW 9-15

Clear

14
N 3-7

MON

44
ESE 3-10

Partly Cloudy

30
S 8-13

TUE

65
SW 8-14

Mostly Cloudy

37
SE 6

WED

65
SE 5-12

Chance Light Rain

37
WSW 12

THU

60
NW 9-15

Mostly Clear

38
WSW 9

DETAILED FORECAST

Overnight — Clear, with a low around 22. North northwest wind 6 to 9 mph.
Sunday — Sunny, with a high near 38. North northwest wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Sunday night — Clear, with a low around 14. North wind 3 to 7 mph.
Monday — Sunny, with a high near 44. East southeast wind 3 to 10 mph.
Monday night — Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. South wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Tuesday — Partly sunny, with a high near 65.
Tuesday night — Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Wednesday — Partly sunny, with a high near 65.
Wednesday night — A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday — Sunny, with a high near 60.

SEVEN-DAY ALMANAC

	Temperature		Degree days		Precip-
Date	High	Low	Heating	Cooling	itation
02/15/2026	61	44	13		0.00
02/16/2026	71	47	6		0.00
02/17/2026	64	54	6		0.00
02/18/2026	65	35	15		0.00
02/19/2026	48	21	31		0.00
02/20/2026	37	17	38		0.00
02/21/2026	41	22	34		0.00

Marion County RECORD

Recent illnesses in the county including cancellation of classes for two days at Centre prompted some to wonder whether COVID-19 had returned. Krista Schneider, Marion County health department director, said a return of COVID-19 was not responsible.

Marion schools are considering league realignment. The district now is a member of the Heart of America League.

Country commissioners delayed actions Tuesday on revision of regulations on wind farms. Planning and zoning director Sharon Olmstead was directed to clarify concerns with county counselor Brad Jantz or consultant Russ Ewy.

Marion’s former Family Dollar/Dollar Tree store is up for lease or purchase after it was bought by a South Dakota company, Shay’s Storage. The company, based in Sioux Falls, is a real estate firm owned by Shannon Van Buskirk.

Stacey Parks will become superintendent of Peabody-Burns schools July 1. Parks, director of Marion County Special Education Cooperative, has been connected to Peabody-Burns since 1999.

Hillsboro homeowners may have to clean up their properties or face the consequences. City council members heard a presentation Tuesday that urged Hillsboro to join a state program of property cleanup.

Hillsboro Mayor Lou Thurston won’t seek another term. His term will end in a little less than two years, and he thought the time was right to identify a council member he might support to be the next mayor.

A new podcast by Hillsboro City Council member Ronald Wilkins is introducing the public to major department heads and what happens behind the scenes. In his first podcast last week, Wilkins played the role of a police officer conducting a traffic stop.

Services for Donald W. Ewert, 102, Durham, who died Feb. 10 at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro, will be 11 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Durham. Relatives will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the service at the church.

Sam Johnson, 81, died Feb. 8 at his home in Marion. He was born March 29, 1944, in El Dorado to John and Clara Lee (Stebbins) Johnson, attended Oil Hill Elementary School in El Dorado and graduated from Circle High School.

Services for Galen Wayne Penner, 76, who died Feb. 11 at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro, were Monday at First Mennonite Church in Hillsboro. Interment was at Johannestal Cemetery, rural Hillsboro.

IN MEMORIAM:

IN MEMORIAM:

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

LETTERS:

How to make Easter bunnies out of socks will be the topic of a hands-on crafts demontration at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Marion City Library. Registration costs $5. Reservations are being accepted at (620) 382-2442.

Parents of Marion-Florence children who will turn 5 by Aug. 31 and plan to attend kindergarten this fall are being urged to contact Lisa Collett at (620) 382-3771 to arrange an appointment for this spring’s kindergarten roundup March 23 at Marion Elementary School.

MEMORIES:

As the regular season comes to an end this week, three county boys’ teams scored victories last week as they attempted to get hot and carry momentum into the post season. Marion

Four of five county girls’ teams bounced back from last week’s losses with victories this week. Marion