BREAKING NEWS
UPDATED AFTER PRINT DEADLINE
McPherson Police Department has arrested a second suspect in the death of Tabor College junior and football player Brandon Brown, who died at 10:16 p.m. Saturday of injuries sustained Sept. 16 in McPherson. DeQuinte Oshea Flournoy, 19, of Dallas, Texas, was arrested Wednesday. He and Alton Lamont Franklin, 19, also of Dallas, are both charged with aiding and abetting murder in the second degree. Both suspects are McPherson College students and were listed on the 2011 McPherson College football team roster, although neither is listed on the 2012 roster.
The sanctuary of Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church was filled and overflowing Tuesday with more than 600 Tabor College students and staff, community members, and coaches and athletes from around central Kansas who came together to weave and be wrapped in a blanket of love and comfort as they paid tribute at memorial service for Tabor student-athlete Brandon Brown. Brown, a redshirt junior on the football team who transferred to Tabor from Santa Ana (Calif.) Community College, passed away Saturday from injuries he sustained Sept. 16 in an assault in McPherson.
Alton Lamont Franklin of Dallas, Texas, has been charged with aiding and abetting murder in the second degree after Tabor College junior and football player Brandon Brown died at 10:16 p.m. Saturday of injuries sustained Sept. 16 in McPherson. Brown, 26, of Sacramento, Calif., was found beaten and unconscious shortly after 4 a.m. Sept. 16 in the 400 block of North Carrie Street, two blocks west of the McPherson College campus. He was transported first to McPherson Hospital, then to Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita. He was the father of two children, a 3-year-old son and 7-month-old daughter.
Ronald Schultz of Hillsboro was 22 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He lived in Hillsboro, graduated from Hillsboro High School, and after a year at Tabor College, he decided to follow duty’s call. He never came home, and years later, his family still misses their very own POW/MIA brother. “He felt very strongly that he wanted to serve his country,” said Schultz’ sister, Ruth Funk of Hillsboro. “He actually wanted to go in and be a Green Beret, but football injuries changed that. He went into medic training instead.”
Students from Marion County schools learned that rings tell the age of a tree, combines cost more than tractors (some even more than a home), bread made from whole-wheat flour is yummy, and erosion can change the direction of a stream, plus many other tidbits of environmental information Tuesday at the 2012 Marion County Fourth Grade EnviroFest in Marion Central Park. “We tailor this to fourth-graders because they are learning about these things in their curriculum at school,” said organizer Peggy Blackman, Marion Reservoir Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) director. “This day just gives them a chance to get some hands-on learning about things that are part of our environment.”
Paige Booten of rural Goessel enrolled at Tabor College this year because she really liked the community feel of the campus when she visited prior to her making her college choice. The people she met convinced her Tabor was the place for her. “All the people I met here were so friendly,” she said. “They made me feel like I was more than just a number. They cared about who I was as a person and wanted to help me grow.”
A new, large sign was unveiled and dedicated Sunday at the Cottonwood Crossing kiosk on the Santa Fe Trail west of Durham on 285th Road. It designates the Cottonwood Crossing interpretive site as an official stop on the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. The Marion County segment of the Santa Fe Trail is the first place where a whole family of signs is linked to guide travelers along the trail route.
Marlyss M. Brunner, 91, formerly of Ramona, died Thursday at Gardner. She was born Oct. 29, 1920, in rural Hillsboro to Fred W. and Adeline (Bessel) Unruh. She was a homemaker and farm wife, and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Ramona.
Gerald D. Kelsey, 69, passed away Sept. 23, 2012. Visitation with family will be held on Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion. Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Sept. 28, 2012, at Marion Christian Church. Interment will be in the Marion Cemetery. Memorial fund established for Our Savior Lutheran Church in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, 205 Elm, Marion, KS 66861.
Harold H. Morris Sr., 89, of Arkansas City died Sept. 14 at Galichia Heart Hospital in Wichita. He was born Jan. 14, 1923, in Arkansas City to Charles H. and Georgia Ruth (Drumsgould) Morris. He attended Arkansas City Public Schools and later served in the U.S. Army for 2.5 years during World War II in Normandy and northern France.
Media often reports that banks are not lending, but bankers in Marion County beg to differ with that. “Most community banks have ample funds available to good quality lenders,” Marion National Bank President Jim Hefley said. “Banks here in Marion County are eager to loan money, but the regulations aren’t allowing us to grant as many loans as a few years ago.”
In the past three years, Hillsboro E-Community loans helped six businesses get started in Hillsboro. Now the entrepreneurial board is working to jump-start three more hometown projects, Hillsboro Economic Development Director Clint Seibel told City Council members last week. “This money we use to help these businesses does not come from tax money and it is not from our mill levy,” Seibel said. “We are using credit money.”
Wheat is selling for $8.49 a bushel, milo is $6.94, corn is $7.28, and soybeans $16.29 per bushel on the worldwide commodities market, Grain Coordinator Dick Tippin of Hillsboro Cooperative and Grain supply reported Thursday. Tippin said these are good prices driven by a continuing demand. There were drought conditions worldwide with the Russian and Ukraine wheat production being affected. He expects prices will continue to stay high unless the economy of China and other large countries falters.
Marion County Commission went back to square one Monday for an emergency communications tower, approving an alternative design to be submitted to Marion planning and zoning officials. “We still need a tower by the jail, that’s not going away,” Marion County Commission Dan Holub said. “We’ve been looking at other options.”
I sat down last week with students at Marion and Peabody-Burns schools to talk about my experiences in journalism. One student commented about being frustrated by political news, and then she said something a bit upsetting. Because I was the one being interviewed I wasn’t taking notes, so I can only paraphrase what she said: She is glad she won’t turn 18 until after the election, because she doesn’t want to have to help choose who is going to screw up the country for the next four years. Four things stand out about what she said; three upset me, and one is cause for optimism.
ONE WOMAN'S VIEW:
Small towns nurture souls
Marion County Park and Lake will have its sixth annual chili cook-off from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 6 outside the lake hall. Contestants can cook their chili in advance, Park and Lake Superintendent Steve Hudson said, but they must have two gallons of chili. There will be cash prizes and trophies for the top three competitors, a traveling trophy for the champion, and a trophy for the competitors’ choice winner.
A cooper will demonstrate his craft from noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 6 at Mennonite Heritage & Agricultural Museum, Goessel. Coopering refers to making wooden items such as buckets and butter churns. Jim Gaster is a full-time cooper who lives near Indianola, Neb. His clients include the Smithsonian Institution, White House Visitor Center, Disneyland, Ordsall Hall Museum in Salford, England, and Hutchinson House Museum in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. His work has appeared in several movies, including “The Alamo,” “Seabiscuit,” “The Legend of Zorro,” and “The Assassination of Jesse James.”
Lincolnville will be celebrating its 140th anniversary Oct. 6 at its annual Octoberfest celebration. Marion County Economic Development is sponsoring the appearance of Randy’s Music Jam at 4 p.m. onstage in the park.
John Mueller’s Roger Miller tribute show “King of the Road” will be at the McPherson Opera House at 7 p.m. Saturday. Miller, who died in 1992, won 11 Grammy Awards for songs such as “Dang Me,” “Chug-a-Lug,” and “King of the Road.” Mueller is a Wichita native who has lived in California for a number of years. He has brought his “Winter Dance Party” show, a rock ‘n’ roll revue, to Kansas a number of times.
Marion County Democratic Women met for lunch Sept. 21. Carolan McFarland was a guest. A partial slate of officers was elected: Sue Clough, president; Janet Bryant, secretary, and Eileen Sieger, treasurer. A vice president will be confirmed by the October meeting.
A local family full of Kansas State University alumni was recognized during Family Day at the university’s football game Sept. 15 against the University of North Texas. Quentin and Shari Morford and their children, Lindsey, Katie, and Matthew – all K-State graduates – of Hillsboro joined relatives from St. John and Stafford as the “Family of the Year.” The family’s K-State connections began with Lolene Morrison Hildebrand of Stafford in 1947. Family members Kent Hildebrand of St. John and Shari Morford of Hillsboro nominated the family for consideration. Family members have been involved with the university in many ways, including serving as Willie the Wildcat at a bowl game, student ambassadors, on the equestrian team, writing for the K-State
BIRTH:
Jonas James CarrCORRESPONDENTS:
Northwest of Durham,
Tampa
Two students from Hillsboro completed master’s degrees from Wichita State University during the summer. Stephanie A. Collins completed her master of science in nursing, and Jessica M. Hughbanks completed her master of physician assistant. Laura Deane Vinduska of Lincolnville completed her master of science degree from Kansas State University as a summer graduate.
Tabor College’s homecoming theme for 2012 is “Dreaming in Color.” Homecoming is Oct. 4 through 7. Traditional homecoming activities include Music Fest, children’s activities by the science building, a fun run/walk, the musical, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” and many sporting events.
The Marion High School Vocal Music Department will present the annual fall concert at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6. The concert will be held at USD 408 Performing Arts Center. The Marion Singers will present their rendition of “All for the Best” from “Godspell”, the KMEA-bound Boys’ Ensemble will present two pieces that will be presented in February, and the Girls’ Ensemble will sing “How Can I Keep from Singing”.
The Hillsboro High School Trojans football team defeated the Hesston High School Swathers, 33-23 Friday during Hesston’s homecoming festivities. After the game, fans were treated to a fireworks display, but the biggest fireworks came in the third quarter. After Hesston scored a touchdown to cut the Trojans’ lead to 20-17, Hillsboro’s Shaq Thiessen returned the kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. Thiessen weaved through the coverage before racing the defense to the end zone.
Hillsboro High School cross-country runners scored top-five finishes and raced well Sept. 18 in the varsity division of the Southeast of Saline invitational meet. Emily Sechrist placed second in the girls’ race, which was won by Class 2A state champion Jenna Farris of Lincoln. Sechrist finished the course in 15 minutes, 42 seconds.
When head coach Lance Sawyer talks about intensity in Hillsboro High School football practices, here’s what he means: The team participated in a drill Sept. 19 during which two-player teams flipped tires back and forth, jerking the heavy pieces of farm-implement rubber up to their chests and then pushing them back to their horizontal rest position. The largest tire, deceivingly skinny as defensive coordinator Scott O’Hare described it, weighs almost 400 pounds.
The Hillsboro High School girls’ tennis team placed seventh out of eight teams Thursday in Hillsboro. The Trojans finished behind, in order, Chapman, Sterling, Circle, Wichita Collegiate, Trinity Catholic of Hutchinson, and Wichita Independent, and ahead of Nickerson, but with 27 points, the Trojans were closer to second place than eighth. Singles
The Goessel High School volleyball team breezed through a night of Wheat State League volleyball games and then found the going tougher at the Olpe Round Robin Tournament on Saturday. On Sept. 18 at home, the Bluebirds dominated their opponents, 100-40, to win another two matches in league play. Against Solomon, Goessel jumped out to a 10-3 lead on many Gorilla errors. The Bluebirds continued to add to their lead and won the first set, 25-13. With Goessel ahead 16-4, Solomon seemed unable to turn around the momentum as the Bluebirds went on to win the second set, 25-7.
Rapid scoring for the Bluebirds allowed them to dominate the game with Burrton and win their second district game of the season, 58-6, on Friday. Speedster Shane Goerzen recovered a fumble in the Burrton end zone to begin the barrage of touchdowns. Trey Schimdt was able to keep the ball and score the conversion. Schmidt found running room for the second Bluebird score on a 30-yard gallop and the Bluebirds led 14-0.
Last October, Hillsboro High School freshman cross-country runner Emily Sechrist mastered the field and one of the state’s most difficult courses to claim the Class 3A championship. Sechrist returned Saturday to Rim Rock Farm as a sophomore, and served notice she’s a serious threat to repeat, shaving 27 seconds off last year’s winning time to place fourth in the Rim Rock Classic Varsity Blue division race in Lawrence.
Goessel High School sent several runners to the Southeast of Saline meet Sept. 18 to compete on a rolling course and to Marion on Thursday. Heath Goertzen continues to lead the boys’ team with top finishes at both meets for the Bluebirds. Nathan Czarnowsky, Davis Cook and Grant Flaming are more apt to exchange places depending on who is running strong on that particular day. All of these runners now have times under 21 minutes and are attempting to break 20 minutes before the season ends. Ali Buller leads the girls’ varsity and Kylee Unruh performs well in girls junior varsity events. Goessel will run at Harvey County East Lake on Thursday. Southeast of Saline times Boys Heath Goertzen, 19:50.51. Nathan Czarnowsky, 20:39.90. Davis Cook, 20:43.74. Grant Flaming, 20:44.02. Ben Wiens, 21:19.43. Jake Herrel, 22:15.29. Christian Konen, 23:53.03. Dan Smucker, 23:56.85. Aaron Woelk, 25.24.13. Henrik Feltens, 26:53.24. Garrett Woelk, 27:58.14. Girls Ali Buller, 17:56.58. Kylee Unruh, 18:58.20. Rebekkah Herrel, 27:04.54. Amelie Kirner, 27:03. Stacee Kirshner, 27:05.10. Marion times Boys Goertzen, 19:52.50. Cook, 20:07.11. Grant Flaming, 20:53.72. Czarnowsky, 21:00.34. Ben Wiens, 21:13.98. Jake Herrel, 22:16.64. David Hesse, 22:53.72. Konen, 23.54.17. Zach Wiens, 24:15.98. Aaron Woelk, 25:00.08. Dane Kruger, 26:17.30. Feltens, 27:18.28. Garrett Woelk, 28:36.03. Girls Buller, 16:58.07. Unruh, 18:52.53. Rebekkah Herrel, 26:28.26. Amelie Kirner, 25:03.00. Kirshner, 25:05.73.