Marion County RECORD

BREAKING NEWS

UPDATED AFTER PRINT DEADLINE

Algae advisory elevated to warning
A blue-green algae watch issued last week for Marion Reservoir was elevated Friday to a warning. The reservoir, which escaped most algae advisories last year, is one of just four bodies of water in the state that will be under algae advisories until at least next Friday. Marion County Lake is not among them.

HEADLINES

Hospital directors ousted
Ryan Edmundson and Travis Parmley defeated incumbents Byron Lange and Jeff Soyez for seats on the St. Luke Hospital board Tuesday. Edmundson received 49 votes; Parmley, 41; Soyez, 31; and Lange, 10. Gene Winkler received a single write-in vote.
Centre student, 3 others die in crash
Eight-year-old Centre Elementary student Nathaniel Haney was killed along with his mother, great-grandmother, and one other in a head-on collision at 2:55 p.m. Saturday on K-4, four miles west of K-15 in Dickinson County. Nathaniel’s 6-year-old brother, Mathew, also a student at Centre, was injured in the wreck. He was treated at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita and released Sunday to his grandparents in Herington.
Muddercycles, Florence Grand Prix is wet and wild
The rain that fell over the Florence Grand Prix on Sunday was slight but steady. Some in the crowd wielded umbrellas, but most just accepted the mist.
Despite trend, Florence Legion marches on
The county has many different Memorial Day ceremonies each year, and 2025 was no exception. But one veterans’ organization is increasingly doing an outsized amount of work.
Hillsboro teen faces nearly decade-old sex charges
A 19-year-old Hillsboro resident was arrested Friday on multiple sex charges dating back at least nine years. Christopher L. Walker, 19, was arrested Friday by Hillsboro police on warrants charging him with three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, a single count of aggravated indecent solicitation of a child to perform a sex act, and interference with law enforcement by submitting false information regarding a felony.

OTHER NEWS

Much talk, little action on wind farm rules
An hour and a half of discussion in front of a standing-room-only crowd ended in no action Thursday other than to check whether proposed revisions to county wind farm rules would be legal. County commissioner Clarke Dirks drafted a complete rewrite of wind energy regulations and persuaded his fellow commissioners to send it to the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission for review at a public hearing.
County replaces totaled pickup
At a meeting dominated by closed-door sessions, county commissioners voted Tuesday to spend $39,390 to buy a 2021 Dodge 2500 Tradesman to replace a Road and Bridges truck totaled after hitting a deer last fall. The county received an insurance settlement of $3,643.70 from the totaled truck, a 2002 Chevrolet.
Meeting to focus on historic district
The public is being invited to attend a meeting to discuss the ongoing development of a downtown historic district in Marion. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday at 7 p.m. in the city building.
Peabody needs to sort out budget, councilman says
A discussion about sewer and water rates at a Peabody council meeting Tuesday turned into a more dramatic conversation about city finances and government structure. The city unanimously voted to increase base sewer and water rates to $35 each, plus a water surcharge of $10 per thousand gallons. The increase will take effect July 1.

DEATHS

Vernon Bartel
Services for Vernon Bartel, 93, who died May 20 at Salem Home, will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church, Hillsboro. Pastor John Werner will officiate. Born June 16, 1931, at Salem Hospital, he spent his early years on a farm near Elmdale, attending a one-room school a mile from home before the family moved to Hillsboro, where he played football and attended high school for almost a year.

DOCKET

FARM

Heavy rains no issue for farmers
Rain, wind, and hail have washed over the county in recent weeks, frustrating many residents ready for some sun. But the moist weather has been a boon for farmers, who say the conditions are helping their wheat and fall crops grow fuller.
Be alert for 'zero dash zero one seven zero'
A confusing robocall to Marion County residents Sunday is being blamed on a Harvey County dispatcher accidentally pressing a wrong button. Around 10 a.m. Sunday, several Marion County residences and businesses received recorded telephone messages from Marion County’s Everbridge emergency alert system.

OPINION

Is it time to sound 'Taps' on patriotism?
Old holidays never die. They just fade away, as seemed to happen Monday in Marion. Once upon a time, Memorial Day was among our most solemn observances, honoring members of the military who made the ultimate sacrifice — their lives — to defend the freedoms that allow the rest of us to do such things as revel in a day off at the start of vacation season.
ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
This is embarrassing
CORRECTIONS:
Hillsboro grant
LETTERS:
Media bias, Oelschlager, Memorial Day

PEOPLE

Florence bar is back in the saddle
Shannon Novak isn’t one to mess around. After purchasing property that housed Fuzzy’s Place in late April, she opened Rusty Spur Saloon on Saturday, Florence’s first bar since Fuzzy’s went out of business.
Preschoolers graduate
A graduation ceremony and a reception completed the school year for Sunshine Country Preschool children. Children received diplomas, performed favorite musical selections, and acted out “Too Much Noise” by Ann McGovern.
Kids can learn about insects
Children ages 7 to 12 will be able to learn about insects and even create their own at a free program 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at Marion City Library. Pre-registration is required. More information is available at (620) 382-2442.
College degrees and honors
Honor roll
Senior center menus
4-H:
Happy Hustlers
MEMORIES:
15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 110, 145 years ago

SPORTS

Warriors regional champs for 1st time in 15 years
The last time Marion’s girls won a regional track and field championship was 15 years ago. The girls scored 91.50 points Thursday at a regional meet at home, edging out Inman, which finished with 88 points. “We just want to thank our athletes for letting us work with them,” coach Grant Thierolf said. “They have made this a very special season.”
Vogt named top swimmer at state meet
Hillsboro’s Lauryn Vogt set a new state swimming meet record, winning the 50-meter freestyle Thursday with a time of 23.39 Thursday. She also won the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 50.28 and was named athlete of the meet and first team all-state.

MORE…

Flood Warning

MARION COUNTY WEATHER

Rain Showers, Partly Cloudy and 53

LIVE RADAR AND CURRENT CONDITIONS

Temperature		53 degrees at 12:16 p.m.
Today's high so far		54 degrees
Today's low so far		53 degrees
Relative humidity		98%
Wind		NW at 5.0 mph, gust to 9.0
Barometric pressure		29.96 inches of mercury
Precipitation		2.25 inches

FORECAST AT A GLANCE

WED

75
NE 10

Mostly Cloudy

58
ENE 2-8

THU

76
E 3-9

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

63
SSE 8

FRI

78
NNW 6-9

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

60
NE 3-8

SAT

80
NE 6

59
ESE 5

SUN

84
W 3-8

Mostly Clear then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

61
WNW 3-7

DETAILED FORECAST

Tonight — A slight chance of rain showers before 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. North wind 8 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday — Sunny, with a high near 75. Northeast wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday night — Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. East northeast wind 2 to 8 mph.
Thursday — A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. East wind 3 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday night — A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South southeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday — Showers and thunderstorms before 1pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday night — A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday — A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday night — A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7pm and 1am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday — A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

SEVEN-DAY ALMANAC

	Temperature		Degree days		Precip-
Date	High	Low	Heating	Cooling	itation
05/28/2025	67	48	8		0.64
05/29/2025	71	53	3		0.33
05/30/2025	78	46	3		0.01
05/31/2025	87	54		5	0.00
06/01/2025	85	54		4	0.00
06/02/2025	85	59		6	0.00
06/03/2025	68	54	4		2.26

Marion County RECORD

BREAKING NEWS

Ryan Edmundson and Travis Parmley defeated incumbents Byron Lange and Jeff Soyez for seats on the St. Luke Hospital board Tuesday. Edmundson received 49 votes; Parmley, 41; Soyez, 31; and Lange, 10. Gene Winkler received a single write-in vote.

The rain that fell over the Florence Grand Prix on Sunday was slight but steady. Some in the crowd wielded umbrellas, but most just accepted the mist.

The county has many different Memorial Day ceremonies each year, and 2025 was no exception. But one veterans’ organization is increasingly doing an outsized amount of work.

The public is being invited to attend a meeting to discuss the ongoing development of a downtown historic district in Marion. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday at 7 p.m. in the city building.

Rain, wind, and hail have washed over the county in recent weeks, frustrating many residents ready for some sun. But the moist weather has been a boon for farmers, who say the conditions are helping their wheat and fall crops grow fuller.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

CORRECTIONS:

LETTERS:

Shannon Novak isn’t one to mess around. After purchasing property that housed Fuzzy’s Place in late April, she opened Rusty Spur Saloon on Saturday, Florence’s first bar since Fuzzy’s went out of business.

A graduation ceremony and a reception completed the school year for Sunshine Country Preschool children. Children received diplomas, performed favorite musical selections, and acted out “Too Much Noise” by Ann McGovern.

Children ages 7 to 12 will be able to learn about insects and even create their own at a free program 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at Marion City Library. Pre-registration is required. More information is available at (620) 382-2442.

4-H:

MEMORIES:

Hillsboro’s Lauryn Vogt set a new state swimming meet record, winning the 50-meter freestyle Thursday with a time of 23.39 Thursday. She also won the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 50.28 and was named athlete of the meet and first team all-state.