PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

HEADLINES

Foundation fundraiser called a success
The Peabody Community Foundation came up just shy of its goal to raise $60,000 by the end of 2009, earning an additional $30,000 in matching funds from the Central Kansas Community Foundation. “We were able to raise $57,000,” foundation chairman Lynn Berns said. “We would like to have made the full $60,000, but we aren’t unhappy with what was raised. We are thankful to all who made donations.”
High-speed internet service is on its way
Peabody Economic Development Committee presented a recommendation Monday night for the city council’s approval. After several months of communication with various high-speed Internet services, the committee selected Pixius Communications of Wichita. “We are pleased to finally have this agreement ready to present to the city,” said Shane Marler, economic development director. “The company serves 5,600 homes in Kansas. They will provide an additional high-speed option for Peabody citizens and the surrounding area.”
Peabody life in 1884-85
Before the technological advances of the 20th century, citizens of the world entertained themselves and their neighbors at home and at a few venues in their communities. Locally, one of the most widely used facilities was the library, given to the city by F. H. Peabody of the Santa Fe Railroad. A manuscript discovered by former resident Steve Baker offered information about the library, which was the first free library in Kansas, and its place in the community.
Four file for Burns City Council
Four Burns residents filed candidacy for three City Council positions up for election April 6. Roland Boesker, Daniel S. Huls II, Patricia Nystrom, and Andrew Selley had filed by the deadline at noon Tuesday.
Fire destroys Lehigh home
In the early morning hours Thursday, Rick Mounts woke up to the sound of what he thought was one of his stepsons’ alarm clocks. He quickly realized the sound was a smoke alarm. Mounts woke up his wife, Gina Mounts, and they escaped the burning house with most of their pets. Gina’s sons — Tristen and Jace Hett — were not there.
Organization will build home for wounded soldier
The program may not be familiar to local residents but the cause is a common one. The organization, Homes for Our Troops, is planning to construct a new home in Marion for the Ryan and Carrie Newell family, but they will need help to do it.
Copies of historical downtown survey donated
In 1991, Peabody Main Street Association commissioned a survey compiled by Sheryll White and Terry Ward of the firm W2. The survey was based on research about downtown Peabody provided by Marilyn Jones and Muriel Wolfersperger. The report contains a history of each building in Peabody’s downtown district. A grant from the National Park Service and Kansas State Historical Society funded the project.

DEATHS

Irvin Mosiman
Irvin C. Mosiman, 86, of Whitewater, died Jan. 23, at Newton Medical Center after a short bout with cancer. Born Dec. 6, 1923, in rural Peabody, to Christian C. and Mary (Nickel) Mosiman, he worked at Vicker’s Refinery in Potwin and Derby Refinery in Wichita.

DOCKET

GOVERNMENT

County recycling director: Commit or get out
Marion County has two viable options for a recycling program: take over all recycling in the county and really commit to it or get out of it entirely, Transfer Station Director Rollin Schmidt told county commissioners Monday. The county shouldn’t do it halfheartedly, he said.
Commission may force departments to share
Marion County Commissioners want county departments to take bigger strides to fill temporary staffing shortfalls in other departments. Commission Chairman Randy Dallke said in a special meeting Thursday that he was not impressed with some departments’ willingness to help in a time of budget woes.

OPINION

Smoked pheasant
Watching the television accounts and reading newspaper stories about the earthquake in Haiti makes a person want to hop on a plane, go over there, and help those poor people. The U.S. is sending more than $100 million in aid to the country, which is admirable.
Our voice in Topeka: readers respond
Thank you to the folks who have responded to the questions I asked last week. I now know that more than 90 percent of those who responded so far believe they would rather pay an extra cent of sales tax than cut more dollars from Medicaid for nursing homes, mental health centers, the disabled, or from schools. Seventy-five percent of those who responded to the issue of beer sales told me they believe that opening up strong beer sales to convenience stores would harm the local economy and be more difficult for law enforcement to monitor — most of you believe it would lead to more undetected sales to minors. One respondent said for the reason of convenience, it would be OK. I appreciate all your responses; you have helped me get a handle on more aspects of the issues than simply the questions I raised in the last column.
LETTERS:
More taxes for better roads?, Chain saw mentality is wrong

PEOPLE

Days of Yore
Sunday noon visitor of Janet Jewell was Janet Sims. A limited edition to benefit the Peabody Historical Society, specifically the printing museum, is being donated by McCormick-Armstrong Company. The original oil painting by local artist Bill Nye is titled “The Ink Cabinet.”
Pizza night scheduled at senior center
Peabody Senior Center will host a pizza supper at 5 p.m. Tuesday. “This is a makeup meal for a day we missed because of snow,” Judy Mellot said. “Whenever the schools are closed, we also close and then we are required to make up missed meals.”
Sorosis Beta members welcome new year
President Carolyn Rowland opened the Jan. 21 meeting of Sorosis Beta Club with a New Year’s wish for all members. She read a New Year’s message, “Make the year a stepping stone.” Club members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the Club Collect. Norma Patton gave devotions, “Legends of Valentines” and Corinthians 13.
Senior center to get new floor
Peabody Senior Center is scheduled to undergo additional renovations Feb. 12 when a new floor is installed in the kitchen. The center will be closed that day and no meals will be available on site. Frozen meals will be delivered to shut-ins.
Relay for Life kickoff is Feb. 3
Marion County walkers will walk around the clock to fight cancer during the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Marion County. This celebration of life brings groups and individuals concerned about cancer together in an effort to fight back. Relay For Life will return June 18 and 19 to Reimer Field at Tabor College, Hillsboro. Kickoff has been set for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 3 in the Marion Family Physicians Clinic Basement, 537 S. Freeborn. Enter through the west door.
Hospital auxiliary has record profit
St. Luke Hospital and Living Center Auxiliary held its annual meeting Thursday at Eastmoor United Methodist Church. President-elect Elora Robinson welcomed attendees and Claudia Allison gave the invocation. During the business meeting, Robinson explained the printed reports of the auxiliary activities, which showed a profit of $48,105.87 for 2009.
Church collecting items for Haiti
Burns United Methodist Church will be assembling “health kits” to send to Haiti as part of relief efforts to earthquake victims. Each health kit will include a hand towel, washcloth, large comb, nail file or fingernail clipper, bar of soap, toothbrush, and a package of six adhesive strip sterile bandages in sealed, one-gallon bags.
CORRESPONDENTS:
Ammeter: Friends visit from Missouri, Milton: Jacque Weibe turns 50

SCHOOL

PBHS spirit squad perform at bowl game
The Peabody-Burns High School Spirit Squad participated in the Capital One College Bowl game Jan. 1 in Orlando. The group left for Orlando Dec. 27 and arrived Dec. 28.
Students recognized for assessment scores
During a recent awards assembly, Peabody students were recognized for achievements on the Kansas State Assessments. Students in grades 3 through 12 took assessments in various subjects. Following are the students who scored in the Exemplary Category on the assessment listed by subject. Reading – Anthony Adams, Samantha Frye, Anna Lubbers, Andrew Wedel, Thomas Adams, Katelyn Benson, Robert Crane, Brandon Entz, Brady Logan, Joshua Morgan, Lillian Partridge, Caroline Beal, Christa Elliott, James Gillet, Tracy Henry, Nicholas Preheim, Colton Terronez, Mackenzie Young, Emily Harris, Embry Hodges, Jeniphfer Huls, Andrew Sheffler, Garret Schroeder, Rayna Barnes, Jamie Henry, Lucas Larsen, Paige Lewis, Kelsie Noble, Joe Partridge, Zachary Preheim, Chandra Rippe, Austin Savage, Jessica Sayers, Seth Topham, and Ashley Weems. Math – Zachary Baatrup, Mallory Harris, Anna Lubbers, Jayton Scott, Andrew Wedel, Thomas Adams, Robert Crane, Brandon Entz, Joshua Morgan, Cody Partridge, Lillian Partridge, Cheyene Shaw, Destinee Steele, James Baker, Tracy Henry, Brandee Burnett, Joe Partridge, Zachary Preheim, Austin Savage, and Seth Topham. Writing – Brandon Entz, Lillian Partridge, Clayton Philpott, Paige Barnes, Isaac Burnett, Shelby Elliott, Martin Hofkamp, Joshua Klarmann, Jacob Simmonds, Andrew Topham, Jeanne Wedel, Julie Wedel, Traylee Woodruff, Rayna Barnes, Brandee Burnett, McKenzie Ensminger, Kortney Foth, Kelsie Noble, Jessica Sayers, and Ashley Weems. Science – Zachary Baatrup, Joshua Henderson, Nathan Loucks, Shelby Elliott, Martin Hofkamp, Joshua Klarmann, Jacob Simmonds, and Andrew Topham.
Three area students named to deans list
Newman University announced students on the dean’s list for the fall semester. Students from Marion County were Meghan Jost of Hillsboro and Gretchen Berns and Megan Cox of Peabody.

SPORTS

PBHS boys win Burrton tournament
For the first time in the history of the Burrton Men’s Invitational Basketball Tournament, the Peabody-Burns High School Warriors achieved the highest honor. The team defeated Berean Academy in third round play Saturday to be crowned champion of the eight-team tournament.

Four Burns residents filed candidacy for three City Council positions up for election April 6. Roland Boesker, Daniel S. Huls II, Patricia Nystrom, and Andrew Selley had filed by the deadline at noon Tuesday.

The program may not be familiar to local residents but the cause is a common one. The organization, Homes for Our Troops, is planning to construct a new home in Marion for the Ryan and Carrie Newell family, but they will need help to do it.

Irvin C. Mosiman, 86, of Whitewater, died Jan. 23, at Newton Medical Center after a short bout with cancer. Born Dec. 6, 1923, in rural Peabody, to Christian C. and Mary (Nickel) Mosiman, he worked at Vicker’s Refinery in Potwin and Derby Refinery in Wichita.

Marion County has two viable options for a recycling program: take over all recycling in the county and really commit to it or get out of it entirely, Transfer Station Director Rollin Schmidt told county commissioners Monday. The county shouldn’t do it halfheartedly, he said.

Marion County Commissioners want county departments to take bigger strides to fill temporary staffing shortfalls in other departments. Commission Chairman Randy Dallke said in a special meeting Thursday that he was not impressed with some departments’ willingness to help in a time of budget woes.

Watching the television accounts and reading newspaper stories about the earthquake in Haiti makes a person want to hop on a plane, go over there, and help those poor people. The U.S. is sending more than $100 million in aid to the country, which is admirable.

LETTERS:

Sunday noon visitor of Janet Jewell was Janet Sims. A limited edition to benefit the Peabody Historical Society, specifically the printing museum, is being donated by McCormick-Armstrong Company. The original oil painting by local artist Bill Nye is titled “The Ink Cabinet.”

Peabody Senior Center will host a pizza supper at 5 p.m. Tuesday. “This is a makeup meal for a day we missed because of snow,” Judy Mellot said. “Whenever the schools are closed, we also close and then we are required to make up missed meals.”

Peabody Senior Center is scheduled to undergo additional renovations Feb. 12 when a new floor is installed in the kitchen. The center will be closed that day and no meals will be available on site. Frozen meals will be delivered to shut-ins.

CORRESPONDENTS:

The Peabody-Burns High School Spirit Squad participated in the Capital One College Bowl game Jan. 1 in Orlando. The group left for Orlando Dec. 27 and arrived Dec. 28.

Newman University announced students on the dean’s list for the fall semester. Students from Marion County were Meghan Jost of Hillsboro and Gretchen Berns and Megan Cox of Peabody.

For the first time in the history of the Burrton Men’s Invitational Basketball Tournament, the Peabody-Burns High School Warriors achieved the highest honor. The team defeated Berean Academy in third round play Saturday to be crowned champion of the eight-team tournament.