The more things change, the more they stay the same. It seems that as I enter my 71st year of life, the more I contemplate that statement. It compels a person in the final decades of life to ponder such questions as, “Who is God that he is aware of us?” and, “Who are we that we are aware of […]

The more things change, the more they stay the same. It seems that as I enter my 71st year of life, the more I contemplate that statement. It compels a person in the final decades of life to ponder such questions as, “Who is God that he is aware of us?” and, “Who are we that we are aware of […]

Donald Trump is president-elect with promises of oil promoting ideas. OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, is cutting oil production. My relatives at Thanks­giving with oil insights were happy for the outlook, whether they liked Trump or not. One family from western Colorado said nearly 20 percent of their customers in a health-related industry had been oil-production workers. Their jobs were […]

I turn 70 in November. I wondered if I would reach God’s allow­ance of three-score and 10, and here I’m just about there. I’m also retiring from everything except continuing this editorial column, according to whenever the Free Press allows it. It’s a very unique time of life in an era that is different than any other I have lived […]

The Marion County Board of Commissioners met Friday, Sept. 30, in a $927,897 payday session with $459,073 designated for county payroll. The county clerk’s office reported receipt of regular sales tax from the state for July sales of $59,488 and of special jail bond tax of $51,988. The commissioners voted 3-0 to employ EBH & Associ­ates, an engineering firm at […]

You learn by your mistakes. The Marion County Commission Monday retained a decision to gravel Quail Creek Road between 250th and 260th to facilitate travel for a Centre student during bad weather although Commission Chairman Randy Dallke said it is now realized the commissioners violated policy. For one thing the school district isn’t responsible for insuring school travel for students […]

It seems that rain has fallen here every three or four days. The corn is ready to harvest. Many soybeans are better than waist-high and the milo is coming on strong. “It’s just awfully, awfully wet,” said Rickey Roberts, Marion County agricultural extension agent. Some corn ready to cut, “but the rain keeps farmers doing a lot of work, so […]

Marion County Commission Chairman Randy Dallke Monday asked candidates running for election to commissioner positions in November to be more considerate and cautious in how they attempt to talk to county department heads. Dallke said some department heads feel they are being put in jeopardy by being asked to criticize commissioners they are working for, while other persons might be […]

The Marion County Board of Commissioners is going to help the new county Economic Develop­ment Committee with $30 to $50 in pay for a records keeper and perhaps with $4,000 to $8,000 in legal fees to recruit new businesses. The committee has chosen Elissa Dodd of Marion as record-keeper. Chris Hernandez, committee chair, told the commissioners at the Aug. 31 […]

Marion County commissioners approved a 5-mill budget increase for 2017, plus a 2-mill assessed valuation increase. One mill is now valued at $125,216. Budget consultant Scott Loyd said Monday at the opening budget hearing before the regular commission meeting that the situation makes it “one of the more challenging” situations he has seen in 33 years of county budget hearings […]