At its July 2 meeting, the Florence City Council voted to purchase the buildings being offered by Unified School District 408.

Although the purchase price was one dollar, councilors have talked at length during several recent meetings about whether to accept the buildings.

Councilors were concerned with maintenance and the possibility of having to sell the building if the buildings become vacant in the future.

However, the building is currently a source of income because of the lease to OASIS, a program of the Marion County Special Education Cooperative.

Also, city events could be held in the building when they don?t conflict with the current tenant?s schedule.

Other buildings in town have sold for a reasonable amount even at auction, such as the former nursing home that was auctioned for $30,000.

Environmental health director Bobbi Strait reviewed several sanitation issues for Marion County commissioners at their Monday meeting.

In addition to the reservoir situation (see story, Page 1), Strait said she was acting on complaints she received regarding sewage on a property in Burns.

?There?s a huge amount of (sewage) water? all the way to the alley and draining to the property next door, she said.

A woman with children lives on the property; the children are staying with a relative because of the unsafe conditions, she said.

The warning period is over. As of July 1, drivers cited for failure to move over for highway maintenance vehicles working along Kansas roadways will be fined. Drivers who fail to comply with the updated move-over law passed by the 2006 Legislature face a fine of up to $90 plus court costs, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation. Fines […]

Mayor Mary Olson announced the appointment of Josh Whitwell as the city?s police chief during Monday?s Marion City Council meeting.

The announcement came after the commissioners took action following a 20-minute meeting in executive session.

Olson and the city councilors plan to meet with Whitwell to negotiate salary, probably later this week.

Consultants with Law Kingdon of Wichita, who also work with planning for a new community corrections center, were at the Marion County Commission meeting Monday to explain planning to commissioners for meeting state fire marshal requirements for the current jail.

Tony Rangel of Law Kingdon said the requirements include blocking fire access through vertical systems?such as heating conduits?and putting barrier walls between jail housing for humans and jail housing for inanimate objects.

Rangel said the Commission could ask the state for 90 days to complete the work. He added that the work wouldn?t be overly expensive, and ?could be done by local craftsmen.?

The Goessel City Council reviewed fireworks stipulations for the public during its June 18 meeting.

Permits are required to discharge fireworks within the city of Goessel. Forms may be picked up at the city office and at Citizens? State Bank and must be returned to the city office by 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 3.

HolubTrashDCP_3975.JPG Click image to enlarge Public callers reported this pile of commercial and demolition waste to the Free Press from a house torn down on North Cedar in Marion by Seacat Hardware, where County Commissioner Dan Holub works. The waste was placed in an old trench silo on land Holub?s mother owns along 240th. County Sanitarian Bobbi Strait said the […]

U.S. Rep Jerry Moran will be the guest speaker at the third annual Fourth of July Eve celebration July 3 on the grounds of the historic William Schaeffler House at the corner of Grand and Jefferson streets. The old-fashioned evening, which begins at 5:30 p.m., will include a visit from Uncle Sam, bands, soloists, a parade and games for kids […]

Jim Richardson?s images of the Flint Hills featured in National Geographic magazine will be on display in Marion County at the Historic Marion City Library.

The April 2007 issue of National Geographic shared the hidden secrets of the Flint Hills with its readers, heralding the Flint Hills as among the world?s most breathtaking natural treasures.

SpringLakeP6152196.JPG Click image to enlarge   Preliminary plans are being discussed for restoration of wetlands at Spring Lake (pictured above in its current condition) on French Creek and along the shoreline of Marion Reservoir near Kansas Fish and Game headquarters between Durham and the Bruderthal area, both on federal land, to aid in sediment control at the reservoir. Peggy Blackman, […]