Marion County RECORD

BREAKING NEWS

UPDATED AFTER PRINT DEADLINE

UPDATED: Teacher gave alcohol to student
A Centre teacher is being investigated for providing alcohol to a student during Marion’s Chingawassa Days in June. UPDATED AFTER DEADLINE: The teacher was identified by police Thursday as business instructor Amy Carlson. She resigned her position, effectively immediately, Monday morning.

HEADLINES

State rules Peabody broke open meetings law
Peabody City Council violated state law when it conducted a closed-door session Aug. 11, the Kansas attorney general’s office has ruled. The council failed to adequately summarize what would be discussed when it went into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel.
Ex-chief bound over on interference charge
Former Marion police chief Gideon Cody is scheduled for trial Feb. 2 after an Oct. 15 preliminary hearing and arraignment in Marion County District Court. Cody is charged with interference with judicial process for allegedly inducing former restaurant and coffee shop owner Kari Newell to delete texts between them days after he led a raid Aug. 11, 2023, on the office of
Marion hopes for park upgrade
A new grant proposal would restore Central Park’s walking trail and playground equipment in Marion. City council members approved the application Monday.
Casey's tanks didn't leak, state says
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment disagrees with a general contractor removing gas at Casey’s General Store. The tanks, KDHE says, were not leaking. Jill Bronaugh communications director for KDHE, said they conducted a limited investigation in June.

OTHER NEWS

County debates how much of shop to build
Marion County moved a step closer Monday to building a portion of a Peabody road and bridge station. Cody Nelson with NF Construction provided various options.
Short-term rental at county lake approved
Dustin Raney’s application for a short-term rental at Marion County Lake was approved 4-1 Monday. County commissioners Clarke Dirks was opposed The vacation home and short term rental is at 30 Lakeshore Dr. Raney hopes to rent it for $6,000 a month.
Peabody trying to address housing
Peabody Community Foundation is trying to bring affordable apartments to the town. The city applied for a middle-income housing grant.
Library ordered to declutter
Hillsboro is telling its city library to declutter and get things in order. Council members heard Tuesday from Mayor Lou Thurston on a decision to close the library Oct. 29-30 and to allow employees time to declutter the space.
Peabody sets deadline for ending yard camping
After almost two years the Peabody City Council will start enforcing its rules on camping on owned properties Scott Spunaugles and wife Kathy Crawley, received permission in January 2024, to live in a camper on their property in the 600 block of Sycamore St. for six months while remodeling their house.
Food stamps to be delayed
A program that provides food assistance to needy families will not get enough money to pay full benefits in November. Recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will get reduced benefits because of an ongoing federal government shutdown.
Hospital board grapples with election rules
Hospital District No. 1, which operates St. Luke Hospital, Clinic and Living Center, is considering changing the way it selects directors. New directors have been selected at the annual meeting in May.
State supreme court to hear case from county
Kansas Supreme Court will hear an appeal next week stemming from a Marion County District Court ruling. John C.T. Boese’s case is scheduled to be heard Oct. 29.
Hillsboro schools to use city facilities
Hillsboro City Council has approved entering into a partnership with the Hillsboro school district to use its athletic facilities. These facilities include tennis courts, a baseball field, and softball fields to serve the district’s physical education and extracurricular programs as well as the broader community.

IN BRIEF

Hotel garners state award
Grand Central Hotel and Grill in Cottonwood Falls has received a statewide Mainstreet Momentum Award honoring its improvement, growth and engagement in a downtown commercial zone. The award was given Thursday during the Kansas Department of Commerce’s annual ‘To The Stars’ ceremony.
Students sent to the curb
Peabody High School students will clean curbs Oct. 29 for a community service day. Work is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Walnut St. from 9th St. to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks. Community members are being invited to pitch in or lend tools. Shovels, brooms, and hoes will be needed. Tools may be dropped off at Southside Creamery and Deli before Tuesday. They may be reclaimed Oct. 30.
Glass collection to be displayed
A collection of uranium and Vaseline glass will be displayed 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at Peabody Museum. The pieces are owned by Patty Traxson and Bonnie Shaw. They will be displayed in several places around the museum and will be illuminated by ultraviolet light. Uranium glass, made with uranium dioxide, glows bright green under a black light. Vaseline glass also contains uranium but has a distinctive yellow color. It is sometimes called “canary glass.”
Photographer gets noticed
Chelsea Weber, Cedar Point, received honorable mention in a statewide photo contest sponsored by Ranchland Trust of Kansas. Photographers of all ages submitted photos that showcase preservation of Kansas’ ranching heritage and open spaces through conservation. Jim Richardson, a Kansas native and National Geographic photographer, was a guest judge for the contest.
Peppernuts project starting
Peabody Senior Center started its annual Peppernuts project Monday and will end Nov. 3. The senior center will bake half as many as usual because lack of volunteers. Baking will begin around 12:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays.

DEATHS

Lee Roy Bartel
Services for Lee Roy Bartel, 90, who died Oct. 15 at NMC Health in Newton, were Tuesday, with burial in Haven of Rest Cemetery, Hillsboro. Born Nov. 2, 1934, in Hillsboro to Waldo and Goldie (Regier) Bartel, he was a 1952 graduate of Hillsboro High School.
Norman Benhardt
Graveside services for Norman Dale Benhardt, 77, who died Oct. 13 at Salina Regional Medical Center, will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Lewis Cemetery, Ramona. Relatives will gather with friends from noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Yazel-Megli Funeral Home, Herington.
Barbara Unruh
Services for Barbara L Unruh, 67, who died Oct. 12 at Bethesda Nursing Home in Goessel after a long battle with cancer, were Sunday. Born on June 22, 1958, in Coolidge, Arizona, she and her three sisters were adopted in 1973 by Milton and Selma Schmidt of rural Goessel.

EDUCATION

Students get a leg up on higher education
High school students around the county are able to enroll in classes that give them a leg up beyond high school. Advanced placement classes are college-level courses that students can take during high school and result in credits they can apply to college degrees.
Dual enrollment shaves costs
With the cost of college increasing, Marion High School is urging its students to take dual-enrollment classes while in high school. Students can save about $30,000 off their college cost over the first two years, counselor Max Venable said.
Middle schoolers float and fool around the water
As many as 40 Marion Middle School students showed off their canoeing and fishing skills Friday morning. More than 100 students crowded Marion County Lake in the school’s annual Lake Day.

FOR THE RECORD

OPINION

Don't be buffaloed by the case against Cody
Marion witnessed a train wreck last week, but not the kind you’re thinking of. It was the criminal case against disgraced former police chief Gideon Cody, who raided our newsroom two summers ago. Cody appeared via Zoom at a preliminary hearing at which special prosecutors persuaded a judge that Cody likely committed a crime when he asked Kari Newell to destroy text messages they exchanged.
Laws no longer rule
Whether you welcomed last weekend’s “No Kings” events or blasted them as “hate America rallies,” one thing seems clear: America no longer holds the rule of law sacred. The problem doesn’t reside exclusively at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. It lives at many other addresses as well — in statehouses, courthouses, city halls, and police stations.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
Sending a line
LETTERS:
Not a 'freeloader', News entertains, More trash talk

PEOPLE

Health fair to offer lab tests, shots
Inexpensive lab tests by Hillsboro Community Hospital and St. Luke Hospital will be featured 8 to 11 a.m. Nov. 1 at the 2025 Marion County Health Fair at Shari Flaming Center for the Arts at Lincoln and B streets in Hillsboro. Four tests — comprehensive metabolic panel, lipid panel, complete blood count with differential, and thyroid-stimulating hormone tests — will be available for $35 total.
Halloween fun, runners coming
Marion will be the scene of cross country regionals Saturday at the high school football stadium. Nine 4A class teams will compete with girls starting at 10:35 a.m. and boys starting at 11:45 a.m.
Senior center menus
MEMORIES:
15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 110, 145 years ago

SPORTS

FOOTBALL:
3 teams on a roll as season nears end
VOLLEYBALL:
Trojans, Bluebirds sweep regionals
CROSS COUNTRY:
2A, 4A regionals coming to Marion

MORE…

MARION COUNTY WEATHER

Rain Showers and 54

LIVE RADAR AND CURRENT CONDITIONS

Temperature		54 degrees at 11:45 p.m.
Today's high so far		59 degrees
Today's low so far		50 degrees
Relative humidity		97%
Wind		N at 0.0 mph, gust to 0.0
Barometric pressure		30.04 inches of mercury
Precipitation today		0.92 inches

FORECAST AT A GLANCE

SAT

56
ESE 7-10

Chance Rain Showers

51
E 6-10

SUN

59
E 7

50
E 6

MON

59
E 8

45
NE 7

TUE

60
NNW 7-13

Chance Rain Showers

39
NNW 8-12

WED

56
N 12

39
ESE 6-9

DETAILED FORECAST

Tonight — Rain showers likely and patchy fog. Cloudy, with a low around 52. East southeast wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday — Rain showers and patchy fog. Cloudy, with a high near 56. East southeast wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Saturday night — A chance of rain showers. Cloudy, with a low around 51. East wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Sunday — A chance of rain showers before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 59. East wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday night — Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. East wind around 6 mph.
Monday — A chance of rain showers after 7am. Cloudy, with a high near 59. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday night — A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday — A chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 60. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday night — A chance of rain showers before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday — Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.

SEVEN-DAY ALMANAC

	Temperature		Degree days		Precip-
Date	High	Low	Heating	Cooling	itation
10/17/2025	81	62		6	0.00
10/18/2025	70	52	4		0.01
10/19/2025	68	39	12		0.00
10/20/2025	71	46	7		0.00
10/21/2025	69	40	11		0.00
10/22/2025	74	38	9		0.00
10/23/2025	69	44	9		0.00

Marion County RECORD

BREAKING NEWS

A Centre teacher is being investigated for providing alcohol to a student during Marion’s Chingawassa Days in June. UPDATED AFTER DEADLINE: The teacher was identified by police Thursday as business instructor Amy Carlson. She resigned her position, effectively immediately, Monday morning.

Peabody City Council violated state law when it conducted a closed-door session Aug. 11, the Kansas attorney general’s office has ruled. The council failed to adequately summarize what would be discussed when it went into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel.

A new grant proposal would restore Central Park’s walking trail and playground equipment in Marion. City council members approved the application Monday.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment disagrees with a general contractor removing gas at Casey’s General Store. The tanks, KDHE says, were not leaking. Jill Bronaugh communications director for KDHE, said they conducted a limited investigation in June.

Marion County moved a step closer Monday to building a portion of a Peabody road and bridge station. Cody Nelson with NF Construction provided various options.

Dustin Raney’s application for a short-term rental at Marion County Lake was approved 4-1 Monday. County commissioners Clarke Dirks was opposed The vacation home and short term rental is at 30 Lakeshore Dr. Raney hopes to rent it for $6,000 a month.

Peabody Community Foundation is trying to bring affordable apartments to the town. The city applied for a middle-income housing grant.

Hillsboro is telling its city library to declutter and get things in order. Council members heard Tuesday from Mayor Lou Thurston on a decision to close the library Oct. 29-30 and to allow employees time to declutter the space.

A program that provides food assistance to needy families will not get enough money to pay full benefits in November. Recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will get reduced benefits because of an ongoing federal government shutdown.

Hospital District No. 1, which operates St. Luke Hospital, Clinic and Living Center, is considering changing the way it selects directors. New directors have been selected at the annual meeting in May.

Kansas Supreme Court will hear an appeal next week stemming from a Marion County District Court ruling. John C.T. Boese’s case is scheduled to be heard Oct. 29.

Grand Central Hotel and Grill in Cottonwood Falls has received a statewide Mainstreet Momentum Award honoring its improvement, growth and engagement in a downtown commercial zone. The award was given Thursday during the Kansas Department of Commerce’s annual ‘To The Stars’ ceremony.

Peabody Senior Center started its annual Peppernuts project Monday and will end Nov. 3. The senior center will bake half as many as usual because lack of volunteers. Baking will begin around 12:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays.

Services for Lee Roy Bartel, 90, who died Oct. 15 at NMC Health in Newton, were Tuesday, with burial in Haven of Rest Cemetery, Hillsboro. Born Nov. 2, 1934, in Hillsboro to Waldo and Goldie (Regier) Bartel, he was a 1952 graduate of Hillsboro High School.

Graveside services for Norman Dale Benhardt, 77, who died Oct. 13 at Salina Regional Medical Center, will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Lewis Cemetery, Ramona. Relatives will gather with friends from noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Yazel-Megli Funeral Home, Herington.

Services for Barbara L Unruh, 67, who died Oct. 12 at Bethesda Nursing Home in Goessel after a long battle with cancer, were Sunday. Born on June 22, 1958, in Coolidge, Arizona, she and her three sisters were adopted in 1973 by Milton and Selma Schmidt of rural Goessel.

High school students around the county are able to enroll in classes that give them a leg up beyond high school. Advanced placement classes are college-level courses that students can take during high school and result in credits they can apply to college degrees.

With the cost of college increasing, Marion High School is urging its students to take dual-enrollment classes while in high school. Students can save about $30,000 off their college cost over the first two years, counselor Max Venable said.

As many as 40 Marion Middle School students showed off their canoeing and fishing skills Friday morning. More than 100 students crowded Marion County Lake in the school’s annual Lake Day.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

LETTERS:

Marion will be the scene of cross country regionals Saturday at the high school football stadium. Nine 4A class teams will compete with girls starting at 10:35 a.m. and boys starting at 11:45 a.m.

MEMORIES:

FOOTBALL:

VOLLEYBALL:

CROSS COUNTRY: