Thursday, January 2, 2020
Locally owned since 1867
Wichita State rallies to victory
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Fertilizer shop burns By ERIC SPRUILL The Iola Register
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Election officials watch for hackers
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Tourists urged to flee Australian fires PAGE A3 SCC Honor Flight fundraiser a success
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The Iola Fire Department responded to a blaze at MidWest Fertilizer early Wednesday morning in what was determined to be a total loss for the company. The department took a call at 2:30 a.m. notifying them of a fire at 506 W. Lincoln. It took firefighters two hours to get the fire under control. Deputy Fire Chief Jeremy Ellington said the cause of the fire is undetermined. Ellington said the biggest concern was dealing with water runoff of the chemicals stored in the warehouse. “With the help of city crews and a few other agencies we were able to dam up some little tributaries. Insecticides, pesticides and fungicides all got into the runoff,” Ellington said. “We would also like to thank Doug Strickler, who used his own personal farm equipment for most of the day See FIRE | Page A3
Above, Iola firefighters use their ladder truck to spray water on the raging fire at Mid-West Fertilizer before sunrise on New Year’s Day. At right is the charred office area. Firefighters have not yet announced a cause of the blaze, which destroyed the building at 506 W. Lincoln St. PHOTOS BY IOLA FIRE DEPARTMENT (ABOVE) AND REGISTER/ERIC SPRUILL
HIKERS START YEAR ON RIGHT FOOT A group of more than 25 hiking and biking enthusiasts gathered at the Lehigh Portland Trails complex south of Iola Wednesday, as part of a growing New Year’s Day tradition to explore the trail system. The group ventured to the Elks Lake cliffs, John Brown’s Cave and parts in between during the 2.5-hour journey. Clockwise from top, the hikers make their way along the South Loup section of the Lehigh Portland Trail; the group then posed for a picture with Elks Lake gleaming in the background; Randy Rasa, trail manager and tour guide, stopped along the way at several portions to point out native flowers and other sites, including fossilized coral that formed in the limestone millennia ago. Ben Alexander of Southwind Cycle and Outdoors led a group of cyclists for the event. Unlike years past, in which the hikers dealt with freezing temperatures, the temps Wednesday were in the 40s. REGISTER/RICH-
Work crews pour footers for cabins at what will be a recreational area near the Humboldt Trailhead of the Southwind Rail Trail. PHOTO
COURTESY OF A BOLDER HUMBOLDT/ FACEBOOK
Cabin construction begins at trailhead By ERIC SPRUILL The Iola Register
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HUMBOLDT — Construction has officially started at the new trailhead in Humboldt which will include cabins, a bike barn, along with a camping area for bicyclists. Beth Barlow, who is spearheading the project, said that footers for the cabins have been poured and work on the barn have begun. She is hoping the cabins and barn are completed by late spring. “Up until now, most of the See CABINS | Page A3
Vol. 121, No. 301 Iola, KS 75 Cents
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