Support builds for train stop in Peabody

Written by Andrew Ottoson Wednesday, 28 May 2008 05:28

Joining the Marion County Board of Commissioners and the Marion City Council, the Hillsboro City Council passed a resolution last week throwing its support behind Peabody’s pursuit of establishing a passenger station along a rail route being proposed by the Northern Flyer Alliance.

Shane Marler, a Hillsboro city council member and interim director of the Peabody Main Street Association, said local support ultimately will take the form of a petition to the Kansas Depart­ment of...

Read more: Support builds for train stop in Peabody

Small town a big stop for this Railroad

Written by Jerry Engler Wednesday, 28 May 2008 05:25

GrandFunkRailroad.jpg Grand Funk Railroad will be pulling into Marion for a concert on June 7. The current band members are (from left) Bruce Kulick, Mel Schacher, Don Brewer, Max Carl and Tim Cashion. Schacher and Brewer are original members.

To the people of Marion,“Be ready to smile, and be ready to sweat,” said Grand Funk Railroad drummer Don Brewer. “We’re coming to your town.”

Brewer said he meant every word of the last part of the quote, which comes from a line in...

Read more: Small town a big stop for this Railroad

Nine valedictorians speak to quality, not just quantity

Written by Don Ratzlaff Wednesday, 21 May 2008 06:39

HHSGraduationNiftyNine.jpg Mathew Brown offers one of three valedictorian addresses at Sunday’s commencement. Eight fellow valedictorians look on: (from left) Ben Bebermeyer, Lauren Just, Jessica Klose, Amber Loewen, Meghan Jost, Anna Woelk, Jandi Nikkel and Grant Schneider. Phyllis Richert photo.

What does it mean when 13 of the 63 members of a high school graduating classes carry the title of either valedictorian or salutatorian?

It simply means the class, collectively, was one of...

Read more: Nine valedictorians speak to quality, not just quantity

Competive drive leads to 'Loser' victory

Written by Don Ratzlaff Wednesday, 21 May 2008 06:15

StanWilliamsP5188071.jpg Stan Williams uses on old belt to demonstrate how his waistline shrank during the “Biggest Loser” contest. Williams claimed first place when he dropped 36 percent of his body weight during the first four months of 2008.

Stan Williams admits he is competitive in anything he sets his mind to.

The drag-racing hobbyist from Marion applied his iron will to his bulging waistline and came away the big winner in the county-wide “Biggest Loser” contest, which...

Read more: Competive drive leads to 'Loser' victory

Hard work turned losers into winners

Written by Don Ratzlaff Wednesday, 21 May 2008 06:00

“Amazing” is how Jeanne Rziha describes the impact of this spring’s “Biggest Loser” weight-loss contest she spearheaded.

“I was amazed by how much people lost,” said Rziha, wellness coordinator at Greenhaw Phar­macy, Hills­boro.

At almost every level, the numbers are impressive. At the first weigh-in in early January, 179 people showed up to participate.

Of those, 69 came back for the final weigh-in during the first week of May. The grand total of pounds lost: 1,417.4...

Read more: Hard work turned losers into winners