HEADLINES

  • Firefighters rescue man on burning roof

    Quick thinking likely saved Kevin Hein, who was trapped on the roof of a burning country house roughly three miles east of Durham on Feb. 22. Dispatchers initially received a phone call from a man who said his father called him to say there was a fire and he was on a roof.

  • City of Marion stalls Straub decision

    Reluctance at giving up a potential commercial economic asset was reason enough Monday for a divided Marion city council to delay the county’s proposed purchase of the former Straub International dealership by sending its rezoning request back to the planning board for a new hearing. After an hour-long deliberation made tedious by repeated requests for clarifications from attorney Joshua Boehm about convoluted regulations and resolutions, council members failed to come up with four votes to override a landowners petition and approve the change to governmental use. Mayor Todd Heitschmidt and council member Jerry Klein voted against approval.

  • Commissioners approach economic development committee's request

    A countywide economic development committee won the formal support of county commissioners, who approved $825,000 over five years for a proposed economic development corporation operating under an independent countywide board. The funding commitment will begin with the 2018 budget year.

  • County resident's short film screened at contest

    While the past weekend’s Academy Awards captured the attention of the nation, one county resident’s cinematic achievement was celebrated much closer to home. Tabor College student Austin Calam’s short film “Smooth Mr. Jonny” was one of 10 selected to show at Wichita CityArts first Webfest, a showcase of short films made by local artists.

  • Old Lehigh depot to become antique store

    The old train depot at Lehigh found a home in Walton in 1976, when Max Davis purchased it at an auction. It was built almost 100 years earlier, when a branch line of the Santa Fe Railroad was established from Florence to McPherson. “It was a closed bid auction, and my father’s was probably the only one they received,” said Max’s son, Glenn.

  • Newspaper equals 25-award record

    Hoch Publishing Company, publisher of the Marion County Record, Hillsboro Star-Journal, and Peabody Gazette-Bulletin,had another banner year in the Kansas Press Association 2016 Awards of Excellence competition, equaling last year’s record haul of 25 awards. “Most gratifying of all was to reclaim the award for overall news and writing excellence,” news editor David Colburn said. “Our staff works hard every week to report news that matters, features that entertain and inspire, content that engages thought, touches feelings, and paints the stories of life in Marion County. Everything counts, and everyone here shares in the honor.”

OTHER HEADLINES

  • Charity auction to benefit food banks and needy

    Holy Family Parish’s 14th annual charity auction will open at 11:30 a.m. Sunday at Pilsen Community Center. The money raised is given to food banks and organized charities in the county, as well as families in need. To date, the auction has raised more than $104,000 for these purposes.

  • Thouvenells make initial court appearances

    A Marion man charged with 12 counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child younger than 14, and his wife, charged with three counts of aggravated intimidation of a witness, made their first appearances Monday in Marion County District Court. Jerry Thouvenell, 56, appeared with his lawyer, David Phillip Leon, of Wichita.

DEATHS

  • Mary Ann Ecker

    Mary Ann Ecker, 77, of Wichita, died Feb. 22 in Wichita. Mary was born Sept. 23, 1939, to June and Betty Herzet in Florence.

  • IN MEMORIAM:

    H. Milford Ediger

DOCKET

FINANCE

  • Things Marion County's mystery millionaire might consider

    Even the manager of the Hillsboro store that sold a winning $1 million lottery ticket doesn’t know the identity of the winner, who wished to remain anonymous after claiming his prize Thursday in Topeka. “We probably sold at least 1,000 tickets,” Casey’s manager Sarah Irvin said. “It’s like that at every Casey’s.

  • Being energy-smart saves money all year

    Although taking steps to lower energy costs can sometimes prove expensive, there are things one can do to cut the cost of utilities. Peabody city treasurer Jonna Munson said a couple of common culprits behind increased water bills are easy to figure out.

  • Everyday changes can bring finances under control

    Living beyond one’s means can result in an assortment of problems, from being unable to get a loan to being denied a rental contract. The first sign of a problem can be having too much month left at the end of your money, Don Noller, president of Marion National Bank, said.

  • Client organization helps tax preparers

    Ken Koslowsky has been involved in accounting ever since he graduated from Tabor College with a degree in business administration in 1959. He began processing income tax returns in 1980 and has been at it ever since. The 70-year-old tax preparer works full-time including evenings during tax season. He said his workload has grown every year, and he can still take on new clients.

OPINION

  • And we're paying for what?

    Last week, county commission chairman Randy Dallke asked an $825,000 question, and the answer is one all county taxpayers should be looking for. $825,000 is what the commission’s economic development task force wants as a 5-year financial commitment from the county for its proposed Marion County Community Economic Development Corporation.

  • ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

    The hunt is on

PEOPLE

  • Fifth annual Ladies Fair helps promote local businesses

    Over the weekend, women from as far as Wichita flocked to the Marion County Ladies Fair at Marion County Park and Lake Hall to shop, dine, and chat. “This is the fifth year we’ve had it, and the vendors that display are at home businesses,” economic development director Teresa Huffman said. “Independent distributors and those types. Ones that people don’t normally promote.”

  • Filming the graces of life

    When Makenzie Deines rented her first video camera from Kansas State University, she thought capturing beautiful moments in video would be a great hobby. But it didn’t take long before it turned into more. After she videotaped several weddings, her mother suggested she turn the hobby into a business.

  • Couple to share experiences in China

    Jeremy and Krista Matlock, associate pastors at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, will speak about their time serving in China at Friday’s Lifelong Learning. The program will begin at 9:45 a.m. Friday in the Wohlgemuth building on the Tabor campus.

  • Genealogy seminar to be March 11

    Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies will conduct a genealogy seminar at 10 a.m. March 11 in the library conference room at Tabor College. The seminar will be a repeat of content explored in a fall workshop, “Deciphering Old German Text and Hand-written Script,” and will be presented by Steve Fast.

  • Foundation seeking applications for grants

    Goessel Community Foundation is encouraging charitable organizations to apply for grants to promote the enhancement of the Goessel community. Approximately $1,600 will be awarded from the Endowed Community Impact Fund. Goessel Community Seniors Endowed Fund also will award an additional amount of $900.

  • Noted singer to give recital at Tabor

    Mezzo-soprano Mary Brown-Bonacci, who has performed in Southern New England, New York, and Boston, will perform a free concert at 7 p.m. Friday at Tabor College in the chapel building. Brown-Bonacci has sung with Opera Company Brooklyn, Salt Marsh Opera, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City. She also has appeared in New York with the EnCanta Collective and National Broadway Chorus.

  • Senior menu

  • NORTHWEST OF DURHAM:

    Residents surprised by snow
  • ROUND THE TOWN NEWS:

    Baptist women meet

SCHOOL

  • Leos exceed goal for fundraiser

    Members of Leos, a Lions Club affiliate at Hillsboro High School, this month raised $1,650 — more than twice their original goal — to benefit a new program providing job skills for students with special needs, according to club president Kyle Unruh. Eleven merchants donated items for a raffle at home basketball games Feb. 10, a fast-food restaurant donated a portion of its sales from three hours Feb. 6, and students conducted other fund-raising activities in school.

  • Tabor to present intriguing drama

    A story about a wife, husband, and a scandalous secret will be the focus of Tabor College’s spring drama, “A Doll’s House.” The play, which takes place in Norway in 1895, tells the story of Nora Helmer, who is keeping a scandalous secret from her husband, Torvald. When her secret is discovered, her identity, and that of her husband, crumble under the pressure.

  • Tabor College choir to perform pre-tour concerts

    Tabor College concert choir will perform two pre-tour concerts on March 12. The first will be at 10:30 a.m. at Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro, followed by a second at 7 p.m. at Zoar Mennonite Brethren Church in Inman.

  • Deadline to sign kids up for cooking, crafting classes approaching

    First through fifth graders will have an opportunity to cook and do crafts with Parkside Homes residents March 21 and 23. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days at Parkside Homes. A specialist from the Sedgwick County Zoo also will do a presentation on animals March 23.

  • Kindergarten screening will be April 6,7

    Parents with preschool-age children, who will be five-years- old on or before Aug. 31, may attend a kindergarten screening April 6 and 7 at Hillsboro Elementary School. Those interested in screening their children may set up an appointment by calling (620) 947-3184 ext. 1.

  • Free child development screening will be March 14

    Free developmental screening for children, birth through 5 years or age, will be from 3 to 5:30 p.m. March 14 in Marion. Development of cognitive, motor, speech/language and social/emotional areas will be checked. Vision and hearing also will be screened. The process usually takes at least one hour.

  • Area school menus

SPORTS

  • Trojans advance against Herington

    The last time the Trojan boys’ basketball team was in action Feb. 21, a 26-point swing cost Hillsboro a 70-60 overtime loss to Smoky Valley. With an open date Friday, coach Darrel Knoll used the next three days to get the kinks worked out of the hose that led to a pair of back-to-back losses.

  • Goessel girls primed for substate run

    Goessel’s basketball teams tuned up for postseason play with convincing wins last week against Udall, but while the top-seeded Lady Bluebirds drew a substate first-round bye, the boys’ season came to a disappointing end Tuesday against Little River. It was the fourth time the teams had played this season, with Little River holding a 2-1 edge going into the game.

  • King competes at 321A state wrestling

    Hillsboro’s lone senior wrestler Travis King lost two tough matches to finish his high school career over the weekend at the 321A state tournament in Hays. “This was certainly not the way we wanted it to end, but Travis has nothing to be ashamed of,” coach Scott O’Hare said. “He has been a consistent and reliable member of this wrestling program for many years.”

  • Padgett brothers earn top places at elementary state wrestling tournament

    Hillsboro brothers Camden and Connor Padgett, of Hillsboro Wrestling Club, placed in the top tier of their weight brackets Sunday at the Kansas Elementary State tournament in Salina. Out of 27 bracket competitors, Camden finished as the 85-pound runner-up.

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Calendar of events

  • Fitness program to 'pump it up' March 19

    Signups are being accepted at the county extension office for an eight-week fitness program in which teams of six document their minutes spent walking, biking, exercising, or playing sports weekly from March 19 and May 13. Registration for the program, called Walk Kansas, costs $8 and offers various challenge levels equivalent to walking across or around the state.

  • Attorney general to be in Marion

    Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt will be in Marion on Monday for informal coffee and conversation from 9 to 9:45 a.m. at Lanning Pharmacy. His visit is in conjunction with Consumer Protection Week. Later that day, he will visit Hutchinson and Newton for free document destruction.

  • Shared reading discussion planned

    “Hillbilly Elegy,” featured since Feb. 2 in Marion City Library’s “one book, one community” program, will be discussed at 7 p.m. Monday at the library. The book humorously chronicles the journey of author J.D. Vance’s family from poverty, abuse, and alcoholism in Kentucky to upward mobility in Ohio.

  • Library plans quilt show

    More than 30 quilts, wall hangings, and table runners will be on display starting Monday at Marion City Library. The library’s 14th annual quilt show will continue during regular library hours through March 18.

  • String band to perform

    Area string band Tallgrass Express will perform “authentic Flint Hills music” at its second annual Spring Green concert at 2 p.m. March 12 at Prairie PastTimes, an arts and crafts cooperative at 220½ Broadway, Cottonwood Falls. Admission will be free, but donations will be solicited.

MORE…

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