Michele Abbott, Marion County director of communications and emergency management, gave notice to the Marion County Commission Monday that she is resigning after more than 20 years with the county. She has accepted a position as 911 director for Hutchinson and Reno County, effective in late October. Commission Chairman Randy Dallke said he could speak on behalf of the commission in extending appreciation for the development and financing work Abbott has done in putting a program together for the county. Commissioners Dan Holub and Bob Hein joined in wishing Abbott well. Linda Ogden, director of Communities in Schools, told the commissioners that her organization has diverged from the aims of CIS so much that people here have decided to diverge from it renaming their local program probably Families and Communities Together. Ogden said the big issues for families here have been different than the issues in the state program. ?Our big issues are poverty and family problems,? she said. In trying to meet objectives, Ogden said the local program is successfully raising $200,000 in grants annually. Richard Nickel of The Insurance Center in Hillsboro was able to return $21,871 in dividends from Employers Mutual Insurance Co. to the county. The commissioners met in executive session with Lloyd Davies of Great Plains Computers & Networking to discuss county computer security.
