PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

HEADLINES

Countdown is on for July 4th
With one weekend remaining before the 88th annual fireworks extravaganza, Peabody Fourth Celebration Society is winding down the building of display pieces. “We have about five more to build,” chairman Brian McDowell said. “We have been able to get most of them done and this next weekend should take care of it.”
Police chief requests better information from vacationers
Peabody Police Chief Bruce Burke wants people going on vacation to provide more information if they want officers to keep an eye on their property. A form is available in the front office of the city building, from the police department, or from the city Web site.
Teen remains upbeat despite cancer
In what seems like a blink of an eye, a family’s life went from normal to scary uncertainty. More than six weeks ago, Thane Hurst was an average 14-year-old Hillsboro High School freshman with a passion for golf.
Cancer relay raises nearly $50,000
Relay for Life of Marion County raised more than $49,500 this weekend. Twenty-two teams participated. More than 70 survivors and caregivers took the opening lap of the relay Friday night in USD 408 Sports Center after unpredictable weather prompted a move indoors.
Hillsboro to celebrate its 125th anniversary
Hillsboro will be abuzz with activity this weekend when residents celebrate the city’s 125th anniversary. Farmer’s Market, 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Schaeffler House — Sloppy joes will be served. Music will be provided by Three Docs & A Quack.
Step back into past at Schaeffler House
As Hillsboro celebrates its 125th anniversary, the William F. Schaeffler House will celebrate its 100th anniversary. The house, now a museum, re-opens Saturday with an antique car show 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., an 1870-1937 fashion show 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., and a fried-chicken picnic dinner 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
125 years and building: Lumberyard shares its birthday
E.R. (Ezra) Burkholder was ahead of his time. An ambitious and progressive man, he came to Hillsboro in 1882 from Ontario, Canada.
Bicyclists practice what they preach
“How did you spend your summer vacation?” Three young people from Colorado and New Mexico, will have an interesting answer when they tell of meeting strangers and seeing the U.S. from the seat of a bicycle.

DEATHS

Otto Bentz
Otto Anton Bentz, 90, of Tampa died June 16 at Hillsboro Community Medical Center. Born Jan. 4, 1919, to Phillip R. and Elsie (Bruns) Bentz on his family’s farm north of Tampa, he was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church and confirmed into the church May 20, 1934.
Anna Enns
Anna Enns, 90, a former missionary to Africa, died Saturday at Salem Nursing Home, Hillsboro. Born July 14, 1918, in Chinook, Mont., to David J. and Elizabeth (Reddig) Enns, she was preceded in death by a brother, William; stepbrother, John F. Knaak; and two sisters, Bertha Schultz and Alice Enns.
Elfrieda Pagenkopf
Retired Tampa and Herington postal worker Elfrieda A. Pagenkopf, 88, died Monday at Herington Municipal Hospital. Services were to be at 11 a.m. today at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Herington. Burial was to follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery.
Robert Risenhoover
Robert Neal Risenhoover Jr., 66, former owner of MarBowl Lanes, Marion, and PlaBowl Lanes, Herington, died Friday at Legacy Park, Peabody. Born May 22, 1943, in Galesburg, Ill., to Dorothy and Robert Risenhoover Sr., he was raised at Wichita Children’s Home.
Duane Schierling
Livestock nutritionist Duane Schierling, 55, died Thursday in Hillsboro. Born Feb. 6, 1954, in Hutchinson, he married Jill Westbrook on Feb. 23, 1980, in Quinter.
Lorraine Walker
Homemaker and farm wife Lorraine E. Walker, 87, died Friday at Parkside Home, Hillsboro. She also worked as a school cook and nurse and at a manufacturing plant in Newton.

DOCKET

FARM

Weekend rains slow wheat harvest
Weekend rains totaling three-quarters of an inch to more than two inches have slowed this year’s wheat harvest, which began last week in all parts of the county. Marion and areas south of town had an additional half-inch overnight Sunday.
Water meeting leaves questions
Professor Philip Barnes’s presentation Thursday about water quality in Marion Reservoir left some attendees with different impressions. About 98 pounds of atrazine washed into the reservoir in 2008, Barnes said.
‘Harvesting is the best part’
Sitting with Ronnie Carlson inside the air-conditioned cab of his combine is almost as pleasant as having a conversation with him in his living room. Outside noise is minimal.
Gardens reach new heights
Is it possible to grow tomatoes, peppers, chard, basil, and green beans in a narrow, graveled alley behind a Main Street shop? Pam Lamborn of Jack Rabbit Hollow, Peabody, thought it couldn’t be done.
Ceremony to mark monument relocation
The 101-year-old Lost Springs monument on the Santa Fe Trail will be relocated in a public ceremony July 3. More than 500 area families donated to construct the monument, which was dedicated July 4, 1908.

GOVERNMENT

Sheriff expects 11% increase in 2010 budget
Marion County Commission approved zoning districts Monday for Marion County Park and Lake and Eastshore development. The districts will allow the county to regulate zoning issues for those areas separately from other unincorporated communities in the county.
Residents have concerns about jail committee
Residents have been voicing concerns about the county’s jail committee, county commissioners said Monday. Among the concerns were questions about whether the committee would hear from the public before it makes a recommendation and why 20 percent of the committee members were involved in car sales.

OPINION

The five regular readers weigh in
You all may recall that sometimes I note the opinions and comments of my five regular readers. Often another reader will ask to be added to the list. Some are quite adamant about being included. I wonder why they think they are not part of the original five? Well, it doesn’t matter. I figure I am up to about 14 regular readers now. And I am grateful for each of them! After I wrote a column about our son-in-law, ol’ What’s His Name, being confused with a similarly named Marion County resident who seems to have a tough time staying out of trouble, almost all of the regular readers contacted me with opinions about that situation. I thought that was a bit odd.
Did you miss me?
I’m sure all of you are just perched on the edge of your seats waiting to hear about my time at Girls State last week in Lawrence. Well, first I would like to address the fact that most kids my age complain about hating Peabody and its size. I myself could probably be quoted saying something along those lines a few times. It’s not until I left, and for just five days, that I realized how good we really have it as a community.
Gratitude
Thank you, subscribers and businesses, for your continued support of this business and others in town. Thank you for placing your business advertisements with us, giving us social news about your family’s events, and calling us with news tips.
Moving forward?
It has occurred to us that with continued technological breakthroughs, the human voice may become extinct. I remember seeing an old “Star Trek” episode on TV where a group of aliens. Instead of talking, they read each other’s minds. They had no voices.
One little thing of note
I hope you all have noticed the Peabody petunias are blooming again along the foundation at Cameo Rose Antiques. There aren’t many this year, and perhaps that does not bode well for the future of these migrating downtown flowers. Take a gander at them, perky and tenacious in their effort to colonize the cracks and splits in the concrete surfaces of downtown Peabody. No one seems to know where they came from, but they have been dressing up the southern portion of the main business district for a number of years. No matter how brutal the summer sun and temperatures, they seem to thrive and spread.

PEOPLE

Teen’s mission trip is life-changing
Jordan Harper, 16, of Marion knew she wanted to be a nurse. After 10 days of visiting inner-city agencies that care for neglected, abused, and abandoned children, the Marion High School junior now knows she wants to be a traveling nurse and care for children with these types of needs.
Wealand is leaner, not meaner after losing 50 pounds
Ken Wealand of Cedar Point, a technician at Prairieland Partners in Marion, is winner of the annual Biggest Loser competition sponsored by the company. The 5-foot-10 Wealand lost 50 pounds in five months, reducing his weight 23.14 percent, and winning $420.
Days of Yore
Cooking enthusiasts were thrilled to dine with Kathleen Kelly, food editor for the Wichita Eagle for 40 years, at the farmers market. Former Marion County sheriff June Jost will be in Peabody to visit and to autograph copies and read excerpts of his book “The Days of June: Recollections of a Country Sheriff.”
CORRESPONDENTS:
Ammeter, Milton, Wonsevu

PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

Peabody Police Chief Bruce Burke wants people going on vacation to provide more information if they want officers to keep an eye on their property. A form is available in the front office of the city building, from the police department, or from the city Web site.

In what seems like a blink of an eye, a family’s life went from normal to scary uncertainty. More than six weeks ago, Thane Hurst was an average 14-year-old Hillsboro High School freshman with a passion for golf.

Relay for Life of Marion County raised more than $49,500 this weekend. Twenty-two teams participated. More than 70 survivors and caregivers took the opening lap of the relay Friday night in USD 408 Sports Center after unpredictable weather prompted a move indoors.

Hillsboro will be abuzz with activity this weekend when residents celebrate the city’s 125th anniversary. Farmer’s Market, 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Schaeffler House — Sloppy joes will be served. Music will be provided by Three Docs & A Quack.

E.R. (Ezra) Burkholder was ahead of his time. An ambitious and progressive man, he came to Hillsboro in 1882 from Ontario, Canada.

“How did you spend your summer vacation?” Three young people from Colorado and New Mexico, will have an interesting answer when they tell of meeting strangers and seeing the U.S. from the seat of a bicycle.

Otto Anton Bentz, 90, of Tampa died June 16 at Hillsboro Community Medical Center. Born Jan. 4, 1919, to Phillip R. and Elsie (Bruns) Bentz on his family’s farm north of Tampa, he was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church and confirmed into the church May 20, 1934.

Anna Enns, 90, a former missionary to Africa, died Saturday at Salem Nursing Home, Hillsboro. Born July 14, 1918, in Chinook, Mont., to David J. and Elizabeth (Reddig) Enns, she was preceded in death by a brother, William; stepbrother, John F. Knaak; and two sisters, Bertha Schultz and Alice Enns.

Retired Tampa and Herington postal worker Elfrieda A. Pagenkopf, 88, died Monday at Herington Municipal Hospital. Services were to be at 11 a.m. today at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Herington. Burial was to follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery.

Robert Neal Risenhoover Jr., 66, former owner of MarBowl Lanes, Marion, and PlaBowl Lanes, Herington, died Friday at Legacy Park, Peabody. Born May 22, 1943, in Galesburg, Ill., to Dorothy and Robert Risenhoover Sr., he was raised at Wichita Children’s Home.

Livestock nutritionist Duane Schierling, 55, died Thursday in Hillsboro. Born Feb. 6, 1954, in Hutchinson, he married Jill Westbrook on Feb. 23, 1980, in Quinter.

Homemaker and farm wife Lorraine E. Walker, 87, died Friday at Parkside Home, Hillsboro. She also worked as a school cook and nurse and at a manufacturing plant in Newton.

Weekend rains totaling three-quarters of an inch to more than two inches have slowed this year’s wheat harvest, which began last week in all parts of the county. Marion and areas south of town had an additional half-inch overnight Sunday.

Professor Philip Barnes’s presentation Thursday about water quality in Marion Reservoir left some attendees with different impressions. About 98 pounds of atrazine washed into the reservoir in 2008, Barnes said.

Sitting with Ronnie Carlson inside the air-conditioned cab of his combine is almost as pleasant as having a conversation with him in his living room. Outside noise is minimal.

Is it possible to grow tomatoes, peppers, chard, basil, and green beans in a narrow, graveled alley behind a Main Street shop? Pam Lamborn of Jack Rabbit Hollow, Peabody, thought it couldn’t be done.

The 101-year-old Lost Springs monument on the Santa Fe Trail will be relocated in a public ceremony July 3. More than 500 area families donated to construct the monument, which was dedicated July 4, 1908.

Marion County Commission approved zoning districts Monday for Marion County Park and Lake and Eastshore development. The districts will allow the county to regulate zoning issues for those areas separately from other unincorporated communities in the county.

Thank you, subscribers and businesses, for your continued support of this business and others in town. Thank you for placing your business advertisements with us, giving us social news about your family’s events, and calling us with news tips.

It has occurred to us that with continued technological breakthroughs, the human voice may become extinct. I remember seeing an old “Star Trek” episode on TV where a group of aliens. Instead of talking, they read each other’s minds. They had no voices.

Jordan Harper, 16, of Marion knew she wanted to be a nurse. After 10 days of visiting inner-city agencies that care for neglected, abused, and abandoned children, the Marion High School junior now knows she wants to be a traveling nurse and care for children with these types of needs.

Ken Wealand of Cedar Point, a technician at Prairieland Partners in Marion, is winner of the annual Biggest Loser competition sponsored by the company. The 5-foot-10 Wealand lost 50 pounds in five months, reducing his weight 23.14 percent, and winning $420.

CORRESPONDENTS: