Hannaford preparing for KLTA presidency

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 23 November 2010 15:39

Hannaford Roger Hannaford III, president of Hannaford Title & Abstract & Title Co. Inc. of Marion, is only months away from becoming president of the Kansas Land Title Association.

Hannaford was chosen as the organization’s president-elect at its state convention in August at Overland Park. He will become president for a one-year term next August.

“It will consume a lot of time and energy away from the office, but it’s a nice honor and I look forward to it,” Hannaford said of his current role and the one that lies ahead.

As president-elect, he will lead several committees within the organization, including the education committee that plans KLTA’s annual three-day school in Wichita for people in the profession needing their...

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7,000-acre spread near Peabody sells to a Harvey County buyer for $8.51 million

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 23 November 2010 15:38

With the final closing last Tues­day, one of the largest land transactions in Marion County history is now official.

The 7,000-acre White Ranch three miles east of Peabody along U.S. Highway 50 is now part of Wildcat Creek Ranch, previously a 640-acre Red Angus operation southeast of Newton, for a selling price of $8.51 million.

“It’s probably the largest ever,” Roger Hannaford III, president of Hannaford Abstract & Title in Marion, said of the sale, which occurred by auction Oct. 19. “It’s the biggest one this office has ever been associated with.”

Considering the unknowns going in regarding the buyer, price and selling strategy, observers say the sale appears to be a good thing—not only for the buyer and auction...

Read more: 7,000-acre spread near Peabody sells to a Harvey County buyer for $8.51 million

Final USD 410 project nearing long-awaited start date

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 26 October 2010 16:42

If Unified School District 410 hits its targeted start date of “on or before Jan. 1, 2011” for its central-office and transportation center complex, three and a half years will have passed since the project was initially commissioned by voters.

It originally was included as part of a $6.625 million bond issue patrons approved June 5, 2007, that included a new football stadium in partnership with Tabor College as well as additions to the high school and elementary school.

A lot has happened since the vote.

Lawsuit and a fire



Almost immediately after the vote, a USD 410 patron filed a lawsuit to block the projects. Funding for all but the stadium was released fairly soon and the entire suit eventually was settled.

Meanwhile...

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Woman’s wallet resurfaces after 10-year absence

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 26 October 2010 16:39

Rita Steiner (left) and Kathy Woelk inspect the wallet that was recently found in the mailbox shown. Almost 10 years ago, Rita Steiner of Tampa lost her wallet while shopping in Salina, and after months of searching for it, she gave up hope of ever locating it.

But Kathy Woelk at the Hillsboro U.S. Post Office had good news Friday—she found it.

Unbeknownst to Woelk, the wallet had been missing for almost a decade when she telephoned Steiner to let her know her billfold was at the post office.

“I was stunned,” Steiner said when she realized it was her wallet. “I started crying.”

Woelk said she discovered the wallet while dumping mail out of the drop box around noon Thursday.

Usually when someone accidentally drops their wallet into the drive through mail box, she said, they come back that day to pick it up. When no one...

Read more: Woman’s wallet resurfaces after 10-year absence