Too spooked to decorate? Not these Halloween lovers: Weather is slightly cooler and an annual celebration of all things spooky has taken hold at the Crabb home in Marion. Denise, Jacob, and Corrina spent Saturday setting up Halloween decorations — enough… dlvr.it/TD66JG

Peabody hires replacement for late interim clerk: Peabody City Council members on Monday hired a permanent city clerk to replace an interim clerk found dead Aug. 18 after more than two weeks missing. Jonathan Clayton, appointed interim city clerk during… dlvr.it/TD66JZ

Astronaut from county may talk to kids: A Space Force astronaut who spent his childhood in Marion County is set to command a mission later this month to bring back two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station. Nick Hague and Russian… dlvr.it/TD66Js

Strike up the band: As sweltering summer fades into fabulous fall between Labor Day and Old Settlers Day each year, thoughts naturally turn to sports and the heroics of dedicated young people who do their communities proud. With equal joy, though not as… dlvr.it/TD66KF

Stronger apart?: After Monday night’s Marion City Council meeting, reporter Phyllis Zorn sought out council members to introduce them to new Record reporter Finn Hartnett, who started work earlier in the day. She waited for Mayor Mike Powers to conclude… dlvr.it/TD66KZ

GUEST COMMENTARY: Apparent conflict of interest casts pall over special prosecutors' role: Until this conflict of interest is resolved by disqualifying them or otherwise, the public has no choice but to wonder whether their decision to file only one… dlvr.it/TD66Kj

Marion again avoids looking at spending: Avoiding yet another opportunity to question specific spending, Marion City Council seemed to agree Monday night to raise the city’s tax levy by 3.9% instead of 9.8%, as originally advertised. At a special session… dlvr.it/TD66Kq

LETTERS: Not for Trump: I’m not voting for Donald Trump. The condition of our country, which in turn determines the condition of our world, is way too critical and downright scary at this point to vote on a personality. But then, I’m not voting for… dlvr.it/TD6V1n

LETTERS: Vote informed: The time is drawing near for all registered Americans to step up to the voting booths or vote by mail or absentee ballot. We are making a very important decision on how the next four years are going to be governed. The wrong… dlvr.it/TD6q0f

GUEST COMMENTARY: Evidence suggests new charges in raid: The recent report by special prosecutors about police raids in Marion last year is rife with circumstantial evidence that the police may have had the requisite criminal intent when they planned and… dlvr.it/TDPRND

Elgin to receive $10,000 grant: The Elgin Hotel will receive a $10,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce to build an app and website that will serve as a tourism guide to Marion County. The tourism marketing grant, which is given out each… dlvr.it/TDPRP6

Ballet tiptoes in with beauty: Nearly 400 Hillsboro residents brought lawn chairs and blankets to raptly watch 40 Wichita performers and two Hillsboro ballerinas performed Saturday at the community plaza. Ballet Wichita’s Ballet in the Park danced to… dlvr.it/TDPRPs

Dog-pound wise and tax-penny foolish: Sniffing around data on the back end of documents about taxes and budgets, it’s not long before you realize the scent is anything but pleasant, and property tax protests are like tails wagging dogs. This week,… dlvr.it/TDPRQt

Grocery and deli provides an oasis in growing Kansas food deserts: Its removal can spell disaster for locals, who might be left with a corporate mega-chain as their only option for groceries, or at least be forced to drive much farther for quality food.… dlvr.it/TDPRRZ

Serious bite among critter crimes: In one of a series of animal attacks last week, an 11-year-old girl had to be taken to Hillsboro Community Hospital for stitches Friday after being bitten by a dog at 7:30 p.m.in front of a Hillsboro… dlvr.it/TDPRRn

Ex-chief won't avoid cameras in courtroom: A former Marion police chief who asked a court to shield him from having photos taken during his upcoming court appearances won’t get what he wanted. Gideon Cody, who led a now-disavowed raid Aug. 11, 2023, on… dlvr.it/TDPRRx

Budget set despite dire talk: Pleas to reduce the budget fell on sometimes sympathetic but still deaf ears Monday at Marion City Council’s budget hearing. Council members approved a $9,806,392 budget, up 30.9% over 2024, which itself was 34.6% over 2023.… dlvr.it/TDPRS6

Places to go, but no way to get there: An 18-year-old from Florence hopes to go more places and take in more experiences once she has a van equipped for her motorized wheelchair. Getting the van means raising money for it. A happy, smiley young woman,… dlvr.it/TDPRSC

Vehicle thefts end in chase, kidnap charge: A former Durham man is being held without bond in Saline County Jail after stealing a car from Durham, then a pickup from Hillsboro, picking up two young women in Hutchinson, driving to Salina, and leading… dlvr.it/TDPRSK

Hillsboro to aid Peabody on water: Hillsboro City Council agreed Tuesday that Hillsboro water system employees would help Peabody with its understaffed public works department. City administrator Matt Stiles discussed Peabody’s staffing with mayor Lou… dlvr.it/TDPhkv