Happy I N D E P E N D E N C E Day! Thursday, July 2, 2020
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Allen Co. behind state with mail ballot trends By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Voters can request mail-in ballots for the upcoming primary election through the Kansas Secretary of State or through the Allen County Clerk offices.
Local voters are bucking a statewide trend in declining to seek advance ballots for the upcoming primary election. Roughly 150 Allen Countians have requested mail-in ballots for the Aug. 4 primary, a number on par with previous elections. That is substantially less than the statewide trend, in which more than 142,000 Kansans have filed applica-
tions for advance ballots, well above the 54,000 requested at the same point in the last presidential election year. Through Wednesday, a total of 258 applications have been received for those wishing to vote by mail, the Allen County clerk’s office reported. Of those, 111 have requested mail ballots on a permanent basis — usually because of a disability or illness that precludes them from going to the polling place on Election Day. That leaves the additional 147
applying for mail-in ballots this year. Applications for mailin ballots can be requested through the county clerk’s office at (620) 365-1407, or by stopping by the office in the courthouse. Online applications also can be printed through the Secretary of State’s office at www.kssos. org/for ms/elections/AV1. pdf. Those wishing to vote in See BALLOTS | Page A3
Football boycott prompts KSU diversity programs
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Health official: Kansas blew shot at COVID respite
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Sign of the times A crew with Star Sign of Lawrence installs a new entrance sign Wednesday, signifying Allen County Regional Hospital is now officially part of the Saint Luke’s Health System. Another sign will be put on the front of the building. Saint Luke’s took over management of the hospital Wednesday under a lease agreement with the county. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS
Woodson Co. rejects mask mandate Woodson Countians will not be required to adhere to an executive order mandating that folks in public must wear protective masks. Gov. Laura Kelly, citing new health concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, issued an executive order this week requiring masks in stores, shops, restaurants and places where people cannot maintain a 6-foot distance. More details about the ordinance were to be released on Thursday. Woodson County Com-
missioner Trent Forsyth announced in a Facebook post Wednesday the Commission voted to opt out of the governor’s order. Such decisions should be made by the citizens themselves, Forsyth wrote. “While we advocate for health and safety we also believe in freedom and the right of the people.” Allen County commissioners debated the issue Tuesday, but have not yet decided, on whether to adhere to the governor’s order.
- Since 1871 -
iola unicipal Band Jake Ard, director
At the bandstand
THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2019 — 8 p.m. PROGRAM
Star Spangled Banner............................... Francis Scott Key March America ..................................................... Arr. Moffitt Down By The Old Mill Stream .............................Tell Taylor Americans We ............................................... Henry Fillmore America, The Beautiful .............................. Katherine Bates Armed Forces Salute .................................Arr. Bob Lowden God Bless America............................................. Irving Berlin National Emblem ..................................................E.E. Bagley March Slav ..................................................... P.I. Tchaikovsky Stars and Stripes .......................................John Philip Sousa
See you there!
Toronto puts focus on Fourth fun By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register
Hunting for an authentic experience of Americana over the long Independence Day weekend? Toronto Days 2020 has just what you’re looking for. Tonight starting at 6 o’clock, the pizza party and “mud stomp” begin at the mud volleyball pit on South Stockton Street. The first round of major events kicks off on Friday evening, with everything taking place at the corner of Main and Broad Streets downtown. Food trucks start serving at 6 p.m., as does registration for the 6:30 p.m. cornhole tournament. The cornhole registration fee is $20 per team. You can text 620-490-0101 to pre-register. At 6:45 p.m. live performances begin, with music from Cedar Creek Crossing at 7 p.m., followed by Val Ventro & the Motor City V8s at 9 p.m. Cedar Creek Crossing plays a mixture of country, bluegrass and folk; and Val Ventro & the Motor City V8s plays a number of classic rock and hard rock covers (as well as originals). Saturday, July 4 features a full day of non-stop fun,
The action heats up during the mud volleyball tournament at the 2019 Toronto Days celebration. REGISTER/TREVOR HOAG starting with a biscuits and gravy breakfast served at the Masonic Lodge on Main Street from 7 to 9 a.m. (There will also be periodic raffles scattered throughout the day, with some pretty big prizes and prize-packages, for example, backpacks, zoo tickets, pet supplies, kitchenware and even furniture.) Throughout the day vendor booths will be set up around the downtown area, and will have all manner of foods (like cotton candy and sno cones), light-up items, novelty gifts and more. At 9 a.m., registration begins for the 10 a.m. classic car show. At 11 a.m. the parade be-
gins on Main Street, which features vehicles, horses, floats and organizations. If you didn’t grab a free burger during the parade — or even if you did — stop by the hamburger feed at the Masonic Lodge on Main Street between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The ice cream social runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the senior center, as does registration for the mud volleyball tournament. Mud volleyball starts at 1 p.m. at the mud pit on South Stockton Street, with competitions for both kids and adults. At 2 p.m. the class car See TORONTO | Page A8
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Vol. 122, No. 173 Iola, KS 75 Cents
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June 27 - July 4 • 9 a.m. - 11 p.m. July 5 • 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.