PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

HUB to thank supporters with chili feed

Staff, directors, and youth of the HUB youth center downtown will host a free chili feed on Sunday. “All of the equipment that was stolen Oct. 9 has been replaced, thanks to the generosity of the community and volunteers,” said Matthew Delvecchio, HUB board member. “People donated $7,000 to the replacement fund and that will take care getting new equipment.”

City postpones police car purchase

On Monday evening, Peabody City Council re-visited a plan to purchase a new police car during the 2013 budget year. Council member Tom Schmidt asked Police Chief Bruce Burke what the officers would do if the council put the purchase off until 2014.

Drought creates problems, opportunities at lakes

Low water levels at Marion Reservoir and Marion County Lake caused by ongoing drought have caused problems at both lakes, but the low water is also creating opportunities not normally present. Marion County Lake is about 5 feet below normal pool, Park and Lake Superintendent Steve Hudson said Monday. So far, the biggest problem at the county lake is the reduced recreational area, he said. If the lake stays at its current level, there won’t be as much room for boaters next summer.

Peabody water benefits from cleaning

Water for Peabody city customers comes from one of two storage tanks in Hillsboro, so when the city of Hillsboro experienced back flush problems last week, Peabody benefited from an unscheduled clear well cleaning. The city of Hillsboro usually schedules clear well cleaning maintenance every three to five years, but because of a back flushing problem, the two tanks at Hillsboro’s water treatment plant were cleaned a year ahead of schedule last week.

Nova L. Bruner

Nova L. Bruner, 75, died Tuesday at St. Luke Hospital, Marion. Services are pending with Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion.

Gustav 'Gus' Hiebert

Gustav “Gus” Hiebert, 88, of Little River, died Tuesday at Sandstone Heights Nursing Home, Little River. He was a retired construction worker and backhoe operator. He was born May 23, 1924, in Goessel to Peter and Sara (Schmidt) Hiebert. He married Opal E. (Morgan) Hunley on July 3, 1965, in Huntsville, Ark. She preceded him in death on July 23, 1982.

Lila Hoffman

Lila Hoffman, 91, of Marion died Nov. 24 at her home. She was born Lila Annette Link on Nov. 20, 1921, to Christian and Mollie Link near Okeene, Okla. She graduated from Okeene High School. She moved to Wichita after graduation and was employed by Boeing Airplane Company.

Marvin Lemons

Marvin Lemons, 63, of Peabody died Nov. 20 in Wichita. He was born July 3, 1949, in Columbus. He was a welder. He married Linda Lemons on April 2, 1971. She survives in Peabody. He is also survived by two sons, James Lemons of Heston and Richard Lemons of Atchison; and a daughter, Kristy Newsome of Newton.

Judith Malin

Judith Malin, 66, died Thursday at Salem Home in Hillsboro. She was born May 18, 1946, in Hampton, Iowa, to the Rev. Arthur W. Malin and Helen Betty (Jost) Malin.

Evelyn Mae Ollenberger

SALINA — Evelyn Mae Ollenberger, 93, of Salina, completed her journey to heaven on November 24, 2012. Evelyn was born in Durham, Kan., on Nov. 24, 1919. Survivors include her husband of 72 years, Leslie; her daughter, Rosemary Hawver of Charlotte, N.C.; daughter, Sydney Teeter of San Diego, Calif.; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Eleanor L. Otte

Eleanor L. Otte, 85, of Herington died Sunday at Rolling Hills Care Facility, Topeka. She was born May 6, 1927, at Burdick to J. Emmett and Eva (Beougher) Train. She was a homemaker and worked at Beech Aircraft in Salina and Herington Hospital. She graduated from Diamond Valley High School in 1945.

Roberta M. Seibel

Roberta M. Seibel, 79, died Saturday at her granddaughter’s home in Olpe. She was born July 4, 1933, in Wichita to Wilbur W. and Cora (Fitch) Carpenter. She was a member of and baptized at First Christian Church in Peabody. She graduated from Peabody High School in 1951.

Edward W. Svitak

Edward W. “Ed” Svitak was born Nov. 2, 1917, to Rudolph and Josephine Vinduska Svitak at the family farm near Pilsen. He was raised in the Pilsen community and spent his entire life there. Being born into a farming family, it was only natural that Ed developed a strong work ethic. He worked the farm with his father and brothers and operated the family trucking business, “Svitak and Sons.” As the years passed, that work ethic and passion for farming was passed down through the generations.

Accidents reported

Civil cases

County jail

Criminal cases

Deeds

Emergency dispatches

Marion police

Offenses

Peabody police

Commission spends time behind closed doors

Marion County Commission had a short meeting Monday, but more than one-third of it was spent in closed session. Commissioners spent 10 minutes in executive session with Sheriff Robert Craft, 15 minutes with Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman, and 10 minutes with only the commission present, all to discuss personnel issues, and none with any public action taken.

What? No downtown lights?

I have heard that there are folks who are a bit distressed because the Christmas lights that outline the buildings during the holiday season have not yet been turned on. I am here to tell you that things truly are on schedule with only minor hiccups. The lights will be turned on this weekend. The chief lighting elf has told me so. There will be a problem on the east side of the street because of the damage to the American Legion building. The lights on both the east and west sides of the 100 block of North Walnut run on a connected circuit. The interruption at the Legion building will keep that side dark until the Legion façade is repaired, the lights are re-fastened, and the wiring and bulbs tested. Yes, that might be in 2013.

People get in the giving spirit

The first week of nominations for Hoch Publishing Company’s donation of $1,000 to one or more local charities, families, or individuals generated eight nominations. I was a bit surprised that most of the nominations were for individuals and families, rather than charity organizations, but all of the nominations were for very good reasons.

DAYS OF YORE:

HOPE IN THE HEARTLAND:

LETTERS:

Tunnel of Lights is Sunday

The annual Christmas Tunnel of Lights at Marion County Lake will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday. The route features decorated homes and acres of Christmas lights and scenes. This year the event will add decorations on lake shelters and the heated fishing dock. Featured decoations include lighted reindeer grazing among twinkling lights, Rudolph pulling Santa’s sleigh over the water, a 40-foot Christmas tree decorated in large balls and lights, five acres full of beautiful lights and animated figures, a Nativity scene, and the tunnel of lights itself.

Messiah to be performed Sunday

Tabor College’s long-standing Christmas tradition of performing “Messiah” by George Fredrick Handel about the anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ will continue on Sunday with a performance by Tabor College Oratorio Chorus, Alumni Chorus, and Tabor’s Community Orchestra. The production will be at 7 p.m. at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, 300 Prairie Point, in Hillsboro. Admission is free and open to the public.

Author to speak children about writing

Author Shana Rothrock will meet with children Sunday to speak about writing. Rothrock recently completed her first book, “Wadsworth: A Prairie Dog Adventure,” and began work on its first sequel, “Wadsworth: Jonathan’s Journey.” Her first book is 148 pages and intended for readers ages 7 to 12. The books are based on a prairie dog colony at Standley Lake, Colo., and many major characters are based on Rothrock’s family and friends.

Beardos top knitter's Christmas to-do list

Once considered a lost art, knitting has taken a recent surge in popularity, according to Treena Lucero of Hillsboro. Also making a surge in popularity is an item handmade by Lucero, called a beardo. “Last year I made and sold 50 hats,” Lucero said. “Characters from a popular cell phone game were a big thing and I knitted a hat that had a tail on top and a bird design. Those hats paid for my Christmas.”

Small business consultant to visit Marion

The Emporia State University Kansas Small Business Development Center will have a consultant in Marion from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 20. The consultant will be available for one-on-one meetings at the Marion campus of Butler Community College.

Hunting can bring people together

The regular firearm season for deer hunting begins today and continues through Dec. 9, and Steve Hett of rural Marion is preparing to welcome friends from the coasts for a hunt. Hett has been hunting most of his life, beginning with father-son rabbit hunts when he was young.

Sorosis Beta tours downtown

On Nov. 15, Sorosis Beta members visited the Flint Hills Gypsies store and Déjà Vu, a new shop getting ready to open soon. Following the shopping opportunities, the group met at the home of Marilyn Cox for an Italian meal catered by Toni Chapman.

Braun family to present program

Jon and Christi Braun and their seven children will present a program of music and sharing Friday at Lifelong Learning. The program begins at 9:45 a.m. and will be held in the Tabor College Wohlgemuth Music Education Center. In 2010, the Brauns adopted four siblings from an orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which were welcomed home by three of their own children. Jon is a commercial airline pilot based in Texas. He is the son of Jack and LaVerna Braun, longtime Tabor College employees and Hillsboro residents.

CORRESPONDENTS:

Time changes for school program

Peabody-Burns Elementary School students will perform their annual Christmas program at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 in the Brown Gymnasium. The school calendar indicates a 2 p.m. starting time, but that is incorrect, according to the PBES office.

Tabor band to play

The Tabor College Symphonic Band and Chamber Strings will present a concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, 300 Prairie Pointe. The theme for the concert is “Lauda” which is Latin for “praise.” The band and strings will each perform and then come together for an orchestral finale.

HUB to thank supporters with chili feed

Staff, directors, and youth of the HUB youth center downtown will host a free chili feed on Sunday. “All of the equipment that was stolen Oct. 9 has been replaced, thanks to the generosity of the community and volunteers,” said Matthew Delvecchio, HUB board member. “People donated $7,000 to the replacement fund and that will take care getting new equipment.”

City postpones police car purchase

On Monday evening, Peabody City Council re-visited a plan to purchase a new police car during the 2013 budget year. Council member Tom Schmidt asked Police Chief Bruce Burke what the officers would do if the council put the purchase off until 2014.

Drought creates problems, opportunities at lakes

Low water levels at Marion Reservoir and Marion County Lake caused by ongoing drought have caused problems at both lakes, but the low water is also creating opportunities not normally present. Marion County Lake is about 5 feet below normal pool, Park and Lake Superintendent Steve Hudson said Monday. So far, the biggest problem at the county lake is the reduced recreational area, he said. If the lake stays at its current level, there won’t be as much room for boaters next summer.

Peabody water benefits from cleaning

Water for Peabody city customers comes from one of two storage tanks in Hillsboro, so when the city of Hillsboro experienced back flush problems last week, Peabody benefited from an unscheduled clear well cleaning. The city of Hillsboro usually schedules clear well cleaning maintenance every three to five years, but because of a back flushing problem, the two tanks at Hillsboro’s water treatment plant were cleaned a year ahead of schedule last week.

Nova L. Bruner

Nova L. Bruner, 75, died Tuesday at St. Luke Hospital, Marion. Services are pending with Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion.

Gustav 'Gus' Hiebert

Gustav “Gus” Hiebert, 88, of Little River, died Tuesday at Sandstone Heights Nursing Home, Little River. He was a retired construction worker and backhoe operator. He was born May 23, 1924, in Goessel to Peter and Sara (Schmidt) Hiebert. He married Opal E. (Morgan) Hunley on July 3, 1965, in Huntsville, Ark. She preceded him in death on July 23, 1982.

Lila Hoffman

Lila Hoffman, 91, of Marion died Nov. 24 at her home. She was born Lila Annette Link on Nov. 20, 1921, to Christian and Mollie Link near Okeene, Okla. She graduated from Okeene High School. She moved to Wichita after graduation and was employed by Boeing Airplane Company.

Marvin Lemons

Marvin Lemons, 63, of Peabody died Nov. 20 in Wichita. He was born July 3, 1949, in Columbus. He was a welder. He married Linda Lemons on April 2, 1971. She survives in Peabody. He is also survived by two sons, James Lemons of Heston and Richard Lemons of Atchison; and a daughter, Kristy Newsome of Newton.

Judith Malin

Judith Malin, 66, died Thursday at Salem Home in Hillsboro. She was born May 18, 1946, in Hampton, Iowa, to the Rev. Arthur W. Malin and Helen Betty (Jost) Malin.

Evelyn Mae Ollenberger

SALINA — Evelyn Mae Ollenberger, 93, of Salina, completed her journey to heaven on November 24, 2012. Evelyn was born in Durham, Kan., on Nov. 24, 1919. Survivors include her husband of 72 years, Leslie; her daughter, Rosemary Hawver of Charlotte, N.C.; daughter, Sydney Teeter of San Diego, Calif.; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Eleanor L. Otte

Eleanor L. Otte, 85, of Herington died Sunday at Rolling Hills Care Facility, Topeka. She was born May 6, 1927, at Burdick to J. Emmett and Eva (Beougher) Train. She was a homemaker and worked at Beech Aircraft in Salina and Herington Hospital. She graduated from Diamond Valley High School in 1945.

Roberta M. Seibel

Roberta M. Seibel, 79, died Saturday at her granddaughter’s home in Olpe. She was born July 4, 1933, in Wichita to Wilbur W. and Cora (Fitch) Carpenter. She was a member of and baptized at First Christian Church in Peabody. She graduated from Peabody High School in 1951.

Edward W. Svitak

Edward W. “Ed” Svitak was born Nov. 2, 1917, to Rudolph and Josephine Vinduska Svitak at the family farm near Pilsen. He was raised in the Pilsen community and spent his entire life there. Being born into a farming family, it was only natural that Ed developed a strong work ethic. He worked the farm with his father and brothers and operated the family trucking business, “Svitak and Sons.” As the years passed, that work ethic and passion for farming was passed down through the generations.

Accidents reported

Civil cases

County jail

Criminal cases

Deeds

Emergency dispatches

Marion police

Offenses

Peabody police

Commission spends time behind closed doors

Marion County Commission had a short meeting Monday, but more than one-third of it was spent in closed session. Commissioners spent 10 minutes in executive session with Sheriff Robert Craft, 15 minutes with Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman, and 10 minutes with only the commission present, all to discuss personnel issues, and none with any public action taken.

What? No downtown lights?

I have heard that there are folks who are a bit distressed because the Christmas lights that outline the buildings during the holiday season have not yet been turned on. I am here to tell you that things truly are on schedule with only minor hiccups. The lights will be turned on this weekend. The chief lighting elf has told me so. There will be a problem on the east side of the street because of the damage to the American Legion building. The lights on both the east and west sides of the 100 block of North Walnut run on a connected circuit. The interruption at the Legion building will keep that side dark until the Legion façade is repaired, the lights are re-fastened, and the wiring and bulbs tested. Yes, that might be in 2013.

People get in the giving spirit

The first week of nominations for Hoch Publishing Company’s donation of $1,000 to one or more local charities, families, or individuals generated eight nominations. I was a bit surprised that most of the nominations were for individuals and families, rather than charity organizations, but all of the nominations were for very good reasons.

DAYS OF YORE:

HOPE IN THE HEARTLAND:

LETTERS:

Tunnel of Lights is Sunday

The annual Christmas Tunnel of Lights at Marion County Lake will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday. The route features decorated homes and acres of Christmas lights and scenes. This year the event will add decorations on lake shelters and the heated fishing dock. Featured decoations include lighted reindeer grazing among twinkling lights, Rudolph pulling Santa’s sleigh over the water, a 40-foot Christmas tree decorated in large balls and lights, five acres full of beautiful lights and animated figures, a Nativity scene, and the tunnel of lights itself.

Messiah to be performed Sunday

Tabor College’s long-standing Christmas tradition of performing “Messiah” by George Fredrick Handel about the anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ will continue on Sunday with a performance by Tabor College Oratorio Chorus, Alumni Chorus, and Tabor’s Community Orchestra. The production will be at 7 p.m. at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, 300 Prairie Point, in Hillsboro. Admission is free and open to the public.

Author to speak children about writing

Author Shana Rothrock will meet with children Sunday to speak about writing. Rothrock recently completed her first book, “Wadsworth: A Prairie Dog Adventure,” and began work on its first sequel, “Wadsworth: Jonathan’s Journey.” Her first book is 148 pages and intended for readers ages 7 to 12. The books are based on a prairie dog colony at Standley Lake, Colo., and many major characters are based on Rothrock’s family and friends.

Beardos top knitter's Christmas to-do list

Once considered a lost art, knitting has taken a recent surge in popularity, according to Treena Lucero of Hillsboro. Also making a surge in popularity is an item handmade by Lucero, called a beardo. “Last year I made and sold 50 hats,” Lucero said. “Characters from a popular cell phone game were a big thing and I knitted a hat that had a tail on top and a bird design. Those hats paid for my Christmas.”

Small business consultant to visit Marion

The Emporia State University Kansas Small Business Development Center will have a consultant in Marion from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 20. The consultant will be available for one-on-one meetings at the Marion campus of Butler Community College.

Hunting can bring people together

The regular firearm season for deer hunting begins today and continues through Dec. 9, and Steve Hett of rural Marion is preparing to welcome friends from the coasts for a hunt. Hett has been hunting most of his life, beginning with father-son rabbit hunts when he was young.

Sorosis Beta tours downtown

On Nov. 15, Sorosis Beta members visited the Flint Hills Gypsies store and Déjà Vu, a new shop getting ready to open soon. Following the shopping opportunities, the group met at the home of Marilyn Cox for an Italian meal catered by Toni Chapman.

Braun family to present program

Jon and Christi Braun and their seven children will present a program of music and sharing Friday at Lifelong Learning. The program begins at 9:45 a.m. and will be held in the Tabor College Wohlgemuth Music Education Center. In 2010, the Brauns adopted four siblings from an orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which were welcomed home by three of their own children. Jon is a commercial airline pilot based in Texas. He is the son of Jack and LaVerna Braun, longtime Tabor College employees and Hillsboro residents.

CORRESPONDENTS:

Time changes for school program

Peabody-Burns Elementary School students will perform their annual Christmas program at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 in the Brown Gymnasium. The school calendar indicates a 2 p.m. starting time, but that is incorrect, according to the PBES office.

Tabor band to play

The Tabor College Symphonic Band and Chamber Strings will present a concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, 300 Prairie Pointe. The theme for the concert is “Lauda” which is Latin for “praise.” The band and strings will each perform and then come together for an orchestral finale.

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