PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

HEADLINES

State is millions of dollars in debt
State Rep. J. Robert Brookens and State Sen. Jim Barnett were greeted Saturday by packed meeting rooms in Hillsboro and Marion. Constituents asked questions regarding KPERS, health care reform, a pipeline exemption, and ways to balance the state’s budget.
Oil line is no longer a ‘pipe dream’
After much anticipation, they are coming by train carloads to the usually quiet Florence depot. Giant pipes, weighing 13,000 pounds each, began arriving this past week during the night with 8 to 12 pipes per car.
PMSA director will testify in legislature
Peabody Main Street Association and Peabody Economic Development Director Shane Marler will testify today before members of the Kansas Legislature. Marler was invited to address the House Taxation Committee after he wrote a letter to members relaying the importance of historic tax credits to sustainable economic development in small Kansas communities. He will present testimony in support of House Bill 2496, which is set to repeal the cap placed on the program during last year’s legislative session. The bill would also allow the transferability of tax credits to continue.
Memorabilia auction offers unusual items Saturday
An array of Peabody memorabilia, souvenirs, early advertising pieces, architectural salvage, and other items will go on the auction block at 8 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion to benefit Peabody Main Street. “We have gotten some pretty interesting items,” Main Street executive director Shane Marler said. “We will even be selling a jar of cash that has been donated by several people who hang on to their change. It’s a good sized container. It will be interesting to see what that brings.”
Kansas Legislature passes smoking ban
The Kansas House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday banning smoking in most enclosed public places and businesses. The House passed HB 2221 by a 68-54 vote. District 70 Rep. J. Robert Brookens voted in favor of the bill. The Senate previously approved the same bill, 26-13, in February 2009. Gov. Mark Parkinson indicated he will sign the bill into law.
MHS athletes participate in tournament following arrests
Two students who represented Marion High School in the state wrestling tournament this past weekend were arrested in Newton the weekend before on suspicion of a variety of offenses. USD 408 Superintendent Lee Leiker said the students were not suspended from the tournament because the school district had not been officially notified of the arrests.
Rock ‘n’ roll headache
Bands continue to play at Chingawassa Days because of the effort put in by the members of the Chingawassa Days committee. The process starts with two or three lists. Patti Donahoe-Fadden a Nashville-based booking agent, puts together lists of classic rock and country acts, and what they charge for a show. She then sends them to Chingawassa committee member Mike Powers.

DOCKET

GOVERNMENT

County sales tax collections down
Marion County sales tax receipts in February were $49,966, a decrease of $2,989 from the same period in 2009. Overall, sales tax collection in Marion County is down about 6 percent from 2009. Deputy County Clerk Tina Spencer presented the sales tax report Friday to Marion County Commissioners.

OPINION

Pondering a few points
I really made a mess of things in my previous opinion column about how to watch the University of Kansas Jayhawks win a basketball game, huh? Boy, they just got skunked on Saturday. I am not sure they even showed up for the game. I didn’t watch that one, I must admit. The Mister was doing a music thing in Wichita and without his announcement that “KU plays today” I wasn’t even aware that they were on the court. By my own admission last week, I wouldn’t have been able to watch, so it is just as well. *****
Our Voice in Topeka
The legislative coffees on Saturday were well attended and both Sen. Jim Barnett and I were grateful for the opportunity to meet and discuss the issues of greatest concern to you all. Thanks for taking part in our government process. We now have the unofficial figures for the state’s revenue in February, and revenue is again below the estimate predicted by Legislative Research.
Days of yore
Mark and Ginger Whitney, proprietors of the Peabody Lumber and Hardware Store in Peabody, invite everyone to stop in on Saturday and help them celebrate their first anniversary. Chris Shaw, a Peabody-Burns senior, received a I rating for his performance in the KSHSAA Regional Piano Festival held at McPherson College.
Hope in the Heartland
(Editor’s note: This is the eighth in a series leading to Easter.) By LARRY TIMM Pastor of Peabody Bible Church Jesus’ words to the heartbroken woman filled the soldier with a curiosity that stabbed at his thoughts. “Is this his mother?”

PEOPLE

Farmers urged to use ‘disciplined’ marketing
Tampa State Bank sponsored an agriculture seminar for farmers Thursday at Pilsen Community Center. Greg Lohoefener of Market Data, Inc., Oberlin, was the presenter. He gave an overview of the crop and livestock outlook for 2010 and showed farmers how they can set realistic target prices and work to achieve realistic profit goals for their individual operations.
CORRESPONDENTS:
Ammeter, Wonsevu

SCHOOL

The science of reading
The way reading is taught in elementary schools has changed. “We have so much more information; it’s almost scientific,” Peabody-Burns Elementary School Title I teacher Michelle Gossen said. “It used to be more of an art.”
PBHS students qualify for national business conference
Members of the Peabody-Burns High School student chapter of Business Professionals of America attended a state leadership conference Feb. 18 through 21 in Wichita. At the conference 12 members qualified to compete in the national conference May 5 through 9 in Anaheim, Calif., and another seven placed at the state level.
Warriors place at forensics meets
Peabody-Burns High School forensics team members Traylee Woodruff and Martin Hofkamp placed fifth in Improvised Duet Acting Feb. 13 at Council Grove. Traylee also performed in Humorous Solo Acting, and Sarah Hofkamp and Paige Lewis performed in Improvised Duet Acting.

SPORTS

Lady Warriors close regular season with losses
Peabody-Burns High School Lady Warriors finished the regular season with two losses — Ell-Saline on Feb. 19, 43-32, and Berean Academy on Feb. 23, 45-24. Up next is a first-round sub-state matchup at Madison.
Warriors lose to Berean on senior night
The Peabody-Burns High School senior night battle of the Warriors Feb. 23 went to Berean, 68-48. The contest ended the regular season and the team will now prepare for a first-round sub-state game at home. Berean

PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

State Rep. J. Robert Brookens and State Sen. Jim Barnett were greeted Saturday by packed meeting rooms in Hillsboro and Marion. Constituents asked questions regarding KPERS, health care reform, a pipeline exemption, and ways to balance the state’s budget.

After much anticipation, they are coming by train carloads to the usually quiet Florence depot. Giant pipes, weighing 13,000 pounds each, began arriving this past week during the night with 8 to 12 pipes per car.

Marion County sales tax receipts in February were $49,966, a decrease of $2,989 from the same period in 2009. Overall, sales tax collection in Marion County is down about 6 percent from 2009. Deputy County Clerk Tina Spencer presented the sales tax report Friday to Marion County Commissioners.

(Editor’s note: This is the eighth in a series leading to Easter.) By LARRY TIMM Pastor of Peabody Bible Church Jesus’ words to the heartbroken woman filled the soldier with a curiosity that stabbed at his thoughts. “Is this his mother?”

CORRESPONDENTS:

The way reading is taught in elementary schools has changed. “We have so much more information; it’s almost scientific,” Peabody-Burns Elementary School Title I teacher Michelle Gossen said. “It used to be more of an art.”

Peabody-Burns High School forensics team members Traylee Woodruff and Martin Hofkamp placed fifth in Improvised Duet Acting Feb. 13 at Council Grove. Traylee also performed in Humorous Solo Acting, and Sarah Hofkamp and Paige Lewis performed in Improvised Duet Acting.

Peabody-Burns High School Lady Warriors finished the regular season with two losses — Ell-Saline on Feb. 19, 43-32, and Berean Academy on Feb. 23, 45-24. Up next is a first-round sub-state matchup at Madison.

The Peabody-Burns High School senior night battle of the Warriors Feb. 23 went to Berean, 68-48. The contest ended the regular season and the team will now prepare for a first-round sub-state game at home. Berean