BREAKING NEWS
UPDATED AFTER PRINT DEADLINE
Although still open, both Marion Reservoir and Marion County Lake will continue under blue-green algae advisories through July 20.
The advisory level for the county lake, which had been under a less-significant watch, was elevated Thursday to a warning.
Hillsboro won’t give $44,500 to the new county economic development corporation until someone can spell out how the money will be used and how the city would benefit.
That was the message council members gave to Marion County Economic Development Corp. chairman Russell Groves at last week’s meeting.
County commissioners were stunned Monday by an editorial in last week’s issue of this paper detailing purchases made at county expense.
One member of the public came to Monday’s meeting to have his say on the subject.
Charges against a Hillsboro man accused of multiple counts of abuse, including killing the family dog in front of his child, have taken three years to make it to court because of investigative and prosecutorial delays.
The man was never taken into custody during that time.
It was the sort of scene idyllic country life is known for — a grandmother and her young granddaughter in a kitchen baking together.
But at the county lake home of Rachel and Marion Toland, the scene changed at the crack of an egg from idyllic to bizarre.
Rehearsal for community members who want to play along with high school band members at this year’s county fair parade will be 7 to 8:30 p.m. July 24 in the school’s band room.
The joint band will ride on a trailer and perform marches and patriotic music during the parade at 6 p.m. July 28.
County commissioners Monday approved a $2,700 settlement of a discrimination complaint filed by a former employee of the county clerk’s office.
Tena Lundgren worked in the office for 11 months of 2014. Afterward, she complained to the Kansas Human Rights Commission about the conditions of her employment.
Authorities have identified Hillsboro resident Yvette Collier, 55, as the person who was arrested on suspicion of interference with a law enforcement officer after a McPherson County fugitive was discovered hiding June 27 in the attic of her apartment.
“Brandon Smith’s escape was nothing dramatic — no tunneling, explosions, or anything like that,” Doug Anderson, investigations captain at McPherson County sheriff’s department, said. “He merely walked away from the hospital while in custody.”
“It’s a different kind of feeling when you know you are going to be in a crash.”
That’s how Jason Hamm describes his career as a demolition derby competitor. He was 16 years old, when he competed for the first time in 1993.
Hovering somewhere between a bicycle and a motorcycle, Joe Bartel’s late 1940s Whizzer motorbike is a rustic relic of a bygone era.
“The amazing thing about it is that it still exists,” Bartle said. “It survived a whole lot of kids tearing it up.
A funeral Mass for homemaker and newspaper carrier Isabella Bezdek, 89, who died Friday at home in Hillsboro, will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Marion, preceded by recitation of the Rosary at 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Marion Cemetery.
She was born June 8, 1928, to Norman and Hilda (Pigorsch) Graham, moved to Kansas around 1940, and graduated from Chapman High School.
Lawrence Foose, 90, Cedar Point, died Tuesday at his home.
He retired after 45 years as a heavy equipment operator for Santa Fe Railroad. Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Matfield Green Cemetery.
Services for James Robert “Jimmy” Silhan, 56, of Salina, who died July 2, were Saturday in Salina.
He was born Feb. 13, 1961, to Robert and Juanita (Dowe) Silhan in Pilsen.
IN MEMORIAM:
Dawna Denney,
Don Druse,
Steve Greenemeyer,
Helen Logan,
Cynthia Pailing,
Leon Scharenberg,
Hattie Whitney
A week and a half ago, veteran journalist “Buzz” Merritt came to Marion to talk about the First Amendment. As a registered Republican (albeit not one of “those” Republicans), I’ll overlook that his visit was sponsored by county Democrats. Some of my best friends are Democrats, just other misguided friends actually root for K-State and teams other than the Green Bay Packers. As even a part-time resident, however, I dare not overlook his message. Nor should you.
Democracy works best when everyone is engaged, and part of any real newspaper’s duty is to foster public engagement. That means, as county clerk Tina Spencer suggests in a well-written letter this week, that when you read about suspicious purchases by county employees, you should check them out. Her generous offer to help should be accepted by any and all who might question why county employees need so many cell phones, buy potting soil and seat upgrades at county expense, and drink costly bottled water that the county pays for.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
County spending,
Root of the problem,
Taelyn Pagel articleANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:
Where have all the gardeners gone?
Nathan Ensz, who works in the kitchen at St. Luke Hospital in Marion, arrived with diplomas from Goessel High, Notre Dame College in Ohio, and Newcastle University in northeast England.
Now Ensz is about to get another kind of education, moving to Malaysia to begin a career teaching English at University College Sedaya International in Kuala Lampur.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Riley BrookensNORTHWEST OF DURHAM:
Friends, relatives attend weddingROUND THE TOWN NEWS:
Coloradoans visit for holiday