15 YEARS AGO

Oct. 7, 2009

Two women from Wichita, calling themselves the Chili Wranglers, took first Saturday in the third annual Marion County Lake Chili Cookoff. Lake resident Gordon Pendergraft placed second.

Anita Hancock is pictured as she leads her fourth-grade class in a rendition of “Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead” for residents at Marion Assisted Living.

Army Secretary Pete Geren has recommended upgrading Chaplain Emil Kapaun’s distinguished service cross to the Congressional medal of honor, the highest honor given to military personnel. The matter now is in the hands of Congress and President Barack Obama.

Martha Pracht was surprised by the faculty of Marion Middle School this week with a retirement party. A cook there for eight years, Pracht is looking forward to spending more time with her husband, Dick, and seeing her son, Scott, who is stationed at Fort Bragg.

Eileen Sieger of rural Marion is pictured with a five-pound sweet potato grown in her garden. The Siegers usually plant sweet potatoes each year, but this is the first year they have had ones this size.