PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin

File for elections

USD 398 will need to have at least three people file to fill upcoming vacancies on the Board of Education. Shayla Clark, Julia Ensminger, and Barry Peter all are serving terms that will expire July 1, 2013. New board members will serve a four-year term. All three positions will be filled by at-large candidates. The district no longer elects candidates who live in and represent specific areas in the district. Clark and Peter said Monday they plan to run for re-election. Ensminger was on the fence.

Congress abdicates responsibility

Whether trying to stop wasteful spending or getting to the bottom of a scandal or controversy, Congress has the ability to check presidential power if it puts its foot down. But lately, Congress has been too reluctant to force the issues. That was part of the message Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Fowler) gave at a town hall meeting Jan. 9 in Hillsboro. He said that for most of the past century, presidents have issued executive orders in conflict with existing laws. It takes Congress challenging those unilateral decisions to rescind them, he said.

Train speed doubles

In an effort to be more efficient, Union Pacific Railroad trains will almost double their speed through Marion, starting Friday. “Right now, the trains have to slow way down while they are in Marion,” said William R. Fitzgerald, a Union Pacific locomotive engineer. “If we maintain a 49 mph speed limit all the way down the line, we can save on the constant wear on our brakes.”

Photography costs $119K

Marion County will spend $119,082 for a new aerial photography system that the service providers say will be out of date in three years. For rural counties, Pictometry International Corp. recommends updating aerial photography every three years to reflect construction and demolition completed in the interim. However, County Commission Chairman Randy Dallke said he did not think the county would have enough change to justify updating it more often than every five years.

Michael Laird Jackson

Michael “Mike” Jackson, 48, of Cedar Point died Thursday at his home. He was born Sept. 24, 1964, in Emporia to Laird “Larry” and Marjorie McAuliffe Jackson. He was a 1983 graduate of Chase County High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Kansas State University in 1988. He was a cattle rancher and feed salesman.

Carol Yvonne (Tambke) Schmidt

Born on Oct. 15, 1940, in Deshler, Neb., to Arnold and Eula (Hill) Tambke, Carol Yvonne (Tambke) Schmidt passed away in her home in Peabody, Kan., on Jan. 8, 2013, surrounded by family. She was baptized on
Nov. 3, 1940, and confirmed in the Christian faith on April 11, 1954, at Grace Lutheran Church in Hebron, Neb.

Accidents reported

Civil cases

Deeds

Emergency dispatches

Hillsboro police

Offenses

Peabody municipal court

Peabody police

Traffic

Raising Watusi cattle

The big horns are attractive and the multicolored hides are interesting, but Bryce Woelk of rural Hillsboro said Watusi were his cattle of choice because of calving ease and survivability. “The calves are born very small,” Woelk said. “It’s one of the main reasons I like the breed — we seldom have any trouble calving.”

Farmer deals with drought

Terrance Vinduska of Marion wakes up each morning, eager to tend to his crops — even in a drought. “I couldn’t be in this business if I wasn’t optimistic by nature,” he said. “I won’t pull a cover over my head and say that there is nothing I can do about the hot and dry weather. There’s plenty I can do to keep my plants alive.”

4-H'ers win national awards

The National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo. is a big deal to livestock breeders, agriculture industry leaders, and now to four Marion County 4-H club members. This past weekend, 24 states and Canada sent top qualifying 4-H livestock judging teams to the national livestock judging contest, part of the national stock show.

Microloans to help farmers

New seed-cleaning plant

Agri Producers Inc. is building a new seed-cleaning plant in Lincolnville. It will replace an aging plant at the Herington facility. According to Perry Gutsch, manager of the Lincolnville elevator, the plant will have a seed-treatment component. The facility is expected to be completed in time this spring to treat bean seed. The treatment protects against damage from certain plant diseases and insects.

Council increases employees pay

City of Peabody employees Leah Ottensmeier and Stephanie Ax received pay increases during Monday’s City Council meeting after the board met in closed session. Ottensmeier’s position as municipal court clerk has been expanded to include the duties of city treasurer and accounting clerk. Her hourly wage will increase from $11 to $12.

Principles vs. politics

All too often, we see elected officials choose political expediency over sticking to their principles. So, as far as that goes, it has been refreshing to see Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Fowler) continue to stand up for spending cuts and against tax hikes and executive power. However, by being vocal, Huelskamp has cost himself — and by extension, the 1st District — a lot of influence in the halls of power. As a freshman representative, Huelskamp served on the House of Representatives committees on the budget, agriculture, and veterans’ affairs. The budget committee is tremendously important for the entire country, and the 1st District is one of the most agricultural congressional districts. He butted heads with House Republican leadership enough that Speaker John Boehner told him to keep quiet or lose committee memberships, Huelskamp recently told a town hall in Hillsboro. It came to a head in December, when Huelskamp did lose his seats on the budget and ag committees. In their place, he was assigned to the small business committee.

A foolish proposal

Marion County Commission on Monday discussed doing something that they should find out pretty quickly is illegal. Commissioner Dan Holub proposed publishing only summaries of ordinances in the county’s official newspaper for legal publications — the Marion County Record — and posting full text on the county website, which would theoretically save the county money. But in Kansas, only cities have the authority to publish ordinance summaries, and they can only do so under specific circumstances. Even then, it isn’t a particularly good idea, as the City of Marion may find out if anyone challenges the zoning regulations revised in June.

Commit to serve

Many of you have a chance to make a commitment to serve your community if you act before noon on Jan. 22. If you are 21, a registered Marion County voter, have a bit of chutzpa and the desire to do something worthwhile, the job I am talking about has your name all over it. Other requirements include a residence in a given area and a willingness to give up some personal time for several years. In return you might get to serve as mayor of Peabody, a member of the city council, or a member of USD 398 school board! Are you excited yet?

Days of Yore

Tommy Phillips of Peabody has been named to the first semester President’s Honor Roll at Dodge City Community College. The group known as “Peabody Churches” recently returned from their Fourth Annual Christmas Tour at Branson.

HOPE IN THE HEARTLAND:

LETTERS:

Grief counseling available

Harden Hospice Kansas is facilitating a monthly grief encouragement group at Peabody Christian Church, located at East Division Avenue and Sycamore Street. The first meeting is from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and anyone experiencing a loss is invited to attend. The group will meet at that time the fourth Tuesday of each month.

Author speaks

Glen Ediger, author of “Leave No Threshing Stone Unturned,” will be a presenter at Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum’s annual meeting 1:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at Goessel Mennonite Church, 109 S. Church St. in Goessel. Ediger, a resident of North Newton, is an authority on the threshing stone, a primitive farming tool used for a short time by Mennonites in Kansas following their immigration from Russia in the mid-1870s. The event is free.

Hymn sing

A monthly community hymn sing will begin at 7 p.m. Sunday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, 300 Prairie Pointe, Hillsboro. The gathering will include singing, scripture reading, and prayer. Those attending will have the opportunity to select favorite hymns. Steve Vincent will lead the hymn sing. The theme will be “Be Careful to Whom You Listen.” Paul Epp will be the trumpet soloist.

Cheerleaders offer clinic

The Hillsboro High School cheerleading squad is offering a clinic for boys and girls grades kindergarten through sixth on Jan. 28, 29, and 30 at the Hillsboro Elementary School gymnasium. Participants will learn cheerleading basics, a dance routine, and receive an official clinic T-shirt. Participants also will be a part of a halftime performance of the HHS boys’ basketball game against Lyons on Feb. 1.

Commodities available

U.S. Department of Agriculture commodities arrived at Marion County senior centers on Thursday. Each site will distribute them according to their own schedule and may not distribute on the same day. Interested families should contact their local senior center to find out about distribution. Marion Senior Center began distributing commodities on Friday. Other days of distribution will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Food is available at Main Street Ministries in Hillsboro. Peabody Senior Center distributed food on Friday and is open until 12:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Free throw contest

Children between ages 10 and 14 are invited to participate in the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship at 2 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Marion Middle School gym. Registration is between 1:30 and 2 p.m. The Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship is sponsored annually, with winners progressing through local, district, and state competitions. There will divisions based on age and gender.

BIRTHS:

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ENGAGEMENT:

Coffee shop a success

Centre Perk, a coffee shop and concession stand opened in the fall by Centre business students, has been more successful than expected. Senior Beka Basore reported on its progress Monday at the USD 397 Board of Education meeting. She and Anna Weber operate Centre Perk with help from other students.

Homework is optional

Tim Robertson, Peabody-Burns High School and junior high principal, reported that there were fewer failing grades in junior high in the first semester than in previous years Monday at the USD 398 Board of Education meeting. He pointed out two instructional techniques used at the school as the reason for the improvement.

USD 398 goes over negotiations

The USD 398 Board of Education went over a schedule for staff evaluations and negotiations. The deadline for evaluations is Feb. 15. First-year teachers are evaluated per semester. Teachers with three to four years of experience are evaluated once a year. Tenured teachers, six or more years, are evaluated once every three years. Superintendent Ron Traxson said he was analyzing evaluating systems from Professional Development 360 and McREL.

PBHS boys defeat Wakefield

On Jan. 8, the Peabody-Burns boys basketball team traveled to White City and were defeated, 54-43. Friday the squad defeated Wakefield at home, 63-41. The team also went to Centre for the Cougar Classic. White City

Barnes scores 17 in victory

The Peabody-Burns girls were defeated Jan. 8 at White City, 37-22, but earned a Friday home victory over Wakefield, 40-23. Up next is a three-game tournament at Centre. White City

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