County weed dept. won’t contract with CKC

Written by Jerry Engler Tuesday, 15 April 2008 16:23

Noxious-Weed Supervisor Rollin Schmidt said Monday at the Marion County Commission meeting that he will not contract with the Central Kansas Conservancy for weed control on the old railroad right of way through Marion County.

Schmidt said that CKC, advocates of creating “rails to trails” on the federally “rail-banked” land now devoid of tracks, is unreliable. He said the group failed to pay for noxious weed service in 1999 and 2000.

If he contracted with CKC again, and it didn’t pay, the service would go back against property taxes to the landowners along the route who are paying them, Schmidt said.

“I’ll just deal with the landowners for any weed services they may need,” he said.

Schmidt said the only way he would...

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Marion Council swears in new members

Written by Jerry Engler Wednesday, 09 April 2008 10:30

GoldenHeritageCheckDCP_4601.jpg Nikki Teel (center), executive director for Golden Living Center, presents a $1,000 donation to Becky Makovec and Angela Lange at the Marion City Council meeting Monday for the Central Park Improvement Com­mittee’s new playground equipment.

Steve Smith was sworn in for a first term and Bill Holdeman for a second term at the Marion City Council meeting Monday. Bill Holderman and Steve Smith are sworn in as members of the Marion City Council Monday by City Clerk Angela Lange. Holdeman, an incumbent, and Steve Smith, a first-time candidate were the top two vote-getters in last Tuesday’s local elections. They defeated Gerald Hnderson and Katherine DeFillipis in the race for the two...

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KDWP to have 'zero tolerance' life jackets this boating season

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Wednesday, 09 April 2008 10:03

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks law enforcement division is taking a zero-tolerance policy for violations relating to life-jacket usage this boating season, according Dan Hesket, assistant director.

“Beginning this year, officers of the law enforcement division were given a directive to crack down on violaters of life-jacket laws,” Heskett said.

Any vessel designed to be propelled by machinery, oars, paddles or wind for water naviga­tion must have a properly maintained and fitting life jacket for each person on board.

The jackets must be readily accessible, and not simply on board.

According to Wildlife and Parks, 90 percent of the people who drowned during the 2006 boating season were not wearing a life jacket.

Longest Walk 2 to pass through this county

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Wednesday, 09 April 2008 08:43

After traveling on foot more than 1,500 miles from San Francisco, the Northern Route of the Longest Walk 2 was scheduled to arrive in Kansas Tues­day, April 8, as participants continue their journey across the nation.

The Northern Route will follow U.S. Highway 50 into Syracuse from Colorado, and participants will then be hosted by Kansans across the state through April.

The Longest Walk 2 began Feb. 11 to bring attention to the environmental disharmony of Mother Earth, sacred site issues, and to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the original longest walk.

Longest Walk 2 participants are carrying out simultaneous north and south routes that together combine more than 6,000 miles across the country.

The two groups will converge in...

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