Peabody, KS

A 3-year-old child helping with farm chores cannot yet understand what a century means. He can understand that a gate needs closing, an animal needs care, and a task matters even when nobody is applauding. Owen Prothro’s Oct. 21 story about Rebecca and Evan Yoder’s family farm near Peabody offered a glimpse of that kind of education. The family has cared for land purchased by its ancestors in 1904. Their grandson, Archie, is already learning the daily work. [FULL STORY at http://mari

After police searched her property Oct. 28 as part of an animal-neglect investigation, a Peabody dog owner has been told to obtain veterinary care for her remaining dog within two weeks. The investigation began in July after dogs were surrendered to rescue organizations. Officer Charles Walker estimated 9 or 10 dogs had been surrendered. They were in poor condition and needed veterinary care, he said. [FULL STORY at http://marionrecord.com]

Former Peabody-Burns teacher Brett McGee was sentenced Monday to five years, eight months in prison after a judge rejected a shorter recommended term, telling him he had exploited a student and betrayed trust placed in him. “You did this because you thought you could,” District Judge Keith Collett told McGee. “There’s no excuse.” Collett imposed a term of 68 months, 15 months more than Marion County Attorney Michelle Brown and defense attorney William Dunn had recommended, and rejec

An anti-stalking protection order sought by Peabody police sergeant Charles Walker against Roxanne Dallke was denied after a court deemed he failed to establish two separate incidents involving her conduct toward him. Walker described being followed from Peabody to Newton on Sept. 15, but his account of earlier alleged conduct relied on what others had told him. Judge Susan Robson ruled when dismissing his petition that the incidents needed to involve Dallke’s conduct toward Walker and the

Bucking a statewide trend, Marion County voters backed Republicans throughout the federal, state, and locals ballots Tuesday, giving most GOP candidates about 7 votes in every 10. Republican Greg Wyatt also led Democrat Randy Eitzen 779 to 195 in the District 4 county commission race. Official write-in totals for incumbent Dan Holub were unavailable at deadline and will be reported later. Peabody voters favored the city’s proposed sales tax 156 to 117 in preliminary returns. [FULL STORY

A proposal to spend $26,000 over three years on public records software drew questions Monday about its necessity and whether Peabody should first update its existing website. The city should address outdated website information before buying additional services, public health and safety officer Denise Jantz said during public comment. “Shouldn’t we be focusing our efforts in something that was supposed to roll out months ago versus spending $30,000 on additional modules?” she asked.

County commissioners agreed Monday to keep pursuing a Peabody ambulance station but rejected committing $513,000 in wind farm payments to the project. The county relies on wind farm money to cover operating expenses, county administrator Tina Spencer cautioned. But commissioners Clarke Dirks objected: “So we’re going to put our financial reserves over public safety?” [FULL STORY at http://marionrecord.com]

Swirling rumors online prompted Peabody police to clarify Tuesday what happened in an incident between two men and a teenager last week that resulted in kidnapping charges and a school lockdown. On social media last week, a Peabody teen wrote that he had seen one of the suspects put a teenager in a chokehold, punch him in the back of the head, and kick him during the encounter Oct. 6. The posted account drew challenges from another commenter, but police officer Charles Walker said: “What th

For Yoder, caring for the land isn’t a simple choice; it’s her responsibility. She and her husband, Evan, are the fourth generation of Yoders to occupy over 80 acres of farm near Nighthawk and 90th Rds. near rural Peabody.A “You’ve got to manage your land. You’ve got to be good stewards,” she said. A look around the property makes it clear the family takes that responsibility seriously. [FULL STORY at http://marionrecord.com]

Payments from two wind farms could pay for a Peabody ambulance station, county commissioners were told Monday before deciding to review the impact on county finances. Commissioner Clarke Dirks proposed using accumulated payments in lieu of taxes from Enel Green Power’s Diamond Vista and Ørsted’s Sunflower Wind to move forward with the long-discussed station. “We’ve kicked this can down the road for a while,” he said. [FULL STORY at http://marionrecord.com]