The Hillsboro City Council talked about a street project that could be an opportunity for community involvement at its March 6 meeting. In addition to the area which could require volunteers, said Larry Paine, city administrator, the other streets included are the waterline streets at First Street from Adams to the alley east of Wilson and from Wilson Street from […]

After the Marion County Commission recessed from its meeting at the Marion City Building, it returned to the courthouse to continue with the remaining agenda items. The discussion also continued about the wind turbine project being proposed by Expedition Wind Project, based in Wayzata, Minn., with Pat Pelstring representing the group. With a smaller contingency of people, either for or […]

A proposed pay plan, based largely on experience and performance could take effect in July, according to information presented at the Feb. 28 meeting of the Marion County Commission. Tina Spencer, county clerk, who fills in as the human resources officer, said this pay plan is designed for the top performers. “Your better performers,” she said, “will move up quicker […]

ABOVE LEFT: Elle Guetterman, a first grader at Marion Elementary School, was the first place poster contest. As part of the ceremony, she, and the second and third place winners, hold up a conservation T-shirt during the 73rd annual meeting and dinner of the Marion County Conservation District on Feb. 23 at Eastmoor United Methodist Church. ABOVE CENTER: Second place poster […]

Greg Bowers, board chairman, left, presented Damien Svitak the Conservation District Service Award. “The fun part of being on the board is getting to know many of the men and women for conservation,” Bowers said. “We would like to present an award to one of our members who wasn’t able to serve any longer, and to let him know we […]

Tyler Ottensmeier, left, presents operator Rodney Suderman and sister Karen Penner of Newton the Kansas Bankers Association Award in Soil Conservation. Patty Decker/Free Press Representing the Marion County Bankers Association, Tyler Ottensmeier, Citizens State Bank in Goessel, said he’s been honored to go on tour with Matt Meyerhoff, conservationist, Doug Svitak, conservation technician, and Ricky Roberts, K-State Research and Extension […]

Peabody landowners Gladys and James Preheim, front, presenter Bruce Schroeder, left, and Wes Shaw and Randy Preheim, operators, accepted the Continuation Conservation Award.Patty Decker/Free Press The Continuation Conservation Award was presented to landowners James and Gladys Preheim of Peabody, and Randy Preheim and Wes Shaw, operators, during the Feb. 28 annual meeting of the Marion County Conservation District. Bruce Schroeder, […]

Myka Amos, foreground, Jeremiah Nienstedt, Gabriela Nienstedt and Logan Amos, all from the Marion area, enjoyed building lakes, hills, and other terrain on the Augmented Reality Sandbox on loan from Eureka during the 73rd annual Marion County Conservation District meeting and dinner. Patty Decker/Free Press Matt Meyerhoff, the NRCS supervisory district conservationist, said he encourages both children and adults to […]

Matt Meyerhoff, NRCS supervisory district conservationist in Marion, Rice and McPherson counties, provided updates on what’s been happening with conservation practices. Meyerhoff said he was also impressed with the turnout at the 73rd annual meeting of the Marion County Conservation District. Patty Decker/Free Press “The year 2018 was successful as far as practices actually applied to the land,” said Matt […]

The Marion County Commission discussed a new pay plan at its meeting Tuesday, and because no action is being taken, I hope commissioners consider the pros and cons thoroughly before taking action to approve this plan. A glaring problem with the methodology of using pay plans, whether it’s with McGrath Consulting Group Inc., or any of the others, is that […]