News

By Alan Rusch

WILSON — The unofficial motto of the Wilson High School Class of 1967 could very well be “Time Flies,” given their amazement at being able to attend their 50th class reunion Saturday at St. Wenceslaus Parish Hall.

“It just went awful fast,” said Larry Wallert of Russell, one of the 18 in the 26 strong class who attended the reunion. “I feel damn fortunate.”

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By Mark Gardner

A retirement promise made more than 30 years ago has finally been fulfilled by one Ellsworth County couple.

For Susan and Clay Manes, their official retirement comes after Clay has worked for the Ellsworth-Kanopolis- Geneseo School District for 29 years and has taught for a total of 32 years. Susan has worked for the district for 28 years and taught for a total of 31 years. They made a promise to each other that they would one day retire together and that day is upon them.

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By Alan Rusch

WILSON — The true meaning of Memorial Day — remembering and honoring the sacrifice of those who did not come home from war — was recognized in a special way by Ellsworth County District Judge Ron Svaty Monday in Wilson, during his Memorial Day speech.

Svaty said while he was searching for ideas for his speech, the Americans buried overseas particularly touched his soul.

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On Saturday, May 20, Marquette celebrated its 13th annual Thunder on the Smoky Biker Rally. It evolved from one man’s passion for motorcycles and the observance of the 1905 tornado which took 31 lives and devastated the town.

The passion came from Stan Engdahl, television repair man and Marquette native who had a love for racing motorcycles. From the 1940s through the 1990s, he raced his modified Harley-Davidson motorcycles, placing in 600 of the approximate 800 races he ran.

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By LINDA MOWERY-DENNING

Kansans seldom pray for relief from moisture, but Debbie Mog can’t help but hope Mother Nature delivers a dry day June 9.

That’s when the 8th annual cancer walk takes place — an event that over the years has provided money to local cancer patients for medicine, rent, utilities, transportation and other needs.

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The potential for flooding along the Smoky Hill River is again on the minds of emergency management personnel.

In May alone, Ellsworth County has received at least four inches of rain. That’s on top of the 10.45 inches received during the first four months of 2017.

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The 44 members of the Ellsworth Junior-Senior High School Class of 2017 closed one chapter of their lives and opened another Sunday, as they received their diplomas during graduation ceremonies in the school gymnasium.

The gym, which was comfortably cool for this time of year, was filled to capacity as parents, grandparents, family and friends witnessed the “pomp and circumstance” of the solemn ceremony.

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Members of the Ellsworth City Council acted Monday night on increases in the water and sewer rates.

After eight months of back and forth to guarantee that city residents received the best bang for their buck, city officials agreed on a initial increase of 10 percent on water and 20 percent on sewer rates with a 20-year pay back on bonds the city plans to issue to pay for improvements to the system.

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The Kansas Attorney General’s Office has determined there is no reason to prosecute three local officers involved in a shooting this past fall near Ellsworth.

A letter dated Monday was received Tuesday by Ellsworth County attorney Paul J. Kasper, who shared the news with Ellsworth County Sheriff Murray Marston and Ellsworth Police Chief Emil Halfhill. The officers — one of whom works for the city and two others that are sheriff ’s deputies — have been on administrative leave.

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The Marquette City Swimming Pool will open at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 28, for a summer filled with programs for children and adults.

The pool — one of only two city pools in Kansas with a threemeter diving board — attracts between 40 and 60 swimmers per session from Marquette and beyond, according to Pam Morel, who has managed the pool for 37 years. It was built in 1970.

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