10 YEARS AGO

February 8, 2011

David Mayfield gathered more than enough signatures for his petition filing for the upcoming Marion City Council election. He only needed 25 and he got 30. However, only three signatures on his three petition forms actually counted.

Mayfield had his signature notarized Dec. 29. In doing so, he effectively stated that he witnessed the signatures of the voters who signed his petition. But the notarization occurred before 27 signatures were collected, invalidating them.

The Pilsen Knights of Columbus had their annual free-throw championship on Sunday at the Marion Middle School gym. Division champions were Evann Heidebrecht, Riley Hake, Elise Schlehuber, Drew Helmer, Jessi Lewman, Bailey Robson, Erika Hess, and Dylan Pippin. They advance to district competition in Emporia Sunday.

Shane Methvin and Danielle Spohn were crowned homecoming king and queen Friday at Centre High School between the varsity games with Goessel. Little helpers were Andrew Ebaban and Sarah David.

On Jan. 21, Marion Kiwanis celebrated its 97th birthday.

The Florence Fire Department unveiled its newest fire truck, a 2012 Ford, Sunday at its annual pancake feed. Fire Chief Mark Slater and assistant chief Terry Britton are pictured as they show Chuck DeForest some of the features of the new truck.

Stories of high school prom dates that blossom into romance and marriage aren’t unusual. One that took more than 40 years, and a garden half a continent wide to bloom, is special.

In 1955, Marion High School juniors Jerry Dieter and Lenore Wheeler weren’t sweethearts, just friends. They would part ways after graduation, but a trolley ride 40 years later at a class reunion put them on the path to love and marriage and they were married in December 2002.